formation

If You Think Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’ Is Anti-Police, She Has a Few Truth Bombs for You

Slay.

In the wake of Beyoncé’s conversation-causing “Formation” drop and Black Panther–evoking Super Bowl halftime performance, many a misguided police union threatened to boycott her upcoming Formation World Tour, calling the song, video, and her entire being anti-police. Some even attempted to stage an anti-Beyoncé protest, but we all know how that went. In Beyoncé’s new interview with Elle — her first time speaking actual words to the media in years — she’s sounding off on the message behind the video that some so clearly seemed to have missed. In an excerpt from the digital issue, she clarifies that she’s not anti-police and anyone who thought otherwise after watching the overwhelmingly pro-black “Formation” is letting their racism show:

“I mean, I’m an artist and I think the most powerful art is usually misunderstood. But anyone who perceives my message as anti-police is completely mistaken. I have so much admiration and respect for officers and the families of the officers who sacrifice themselves to keeps us safe. But let’s be clear: I am against police brutality and injustice. Those are two separate things. If celebrating my roots and culture during Black History Month made anyone uncomfortable, those feelings were there long before a video and long before me. I’m proud of what we created and I’m proud to be part of a conversation that is pushing things forward in a positive way.”

Carry on.

Beyoncé: ‘Formation’ Isn’t Anti-Police, Duh