Not really a formation. A protest against Beyonce over her controversial song “Formation” was an absolute bust earlier this week, Us Weekly can confirm. Only two protesters showed up to join the organized event outside the NFL headquarters in NYC on Tuesday, February 16.
The revolt against Queen Bey was scheduled by critics who believe that her “Formation” lyrics support police brutality. Beyonce dropped the single on Saturday, February 6, and performed it at the Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show the following day.
“It’s very offensive to police officers and law-abiding citizens, both black and white across the world,” NYC resident Ariel Kohane told Us on Tuesday. (The second protester, April, only identified herself as a student.)
“She’s supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and the Black Panthers movement, which is very cynical,” he added. “[It’s a] very racist movement in itself, because here they’re complaining that police officers are the racists and the bigots, but meanwhile, they hate police officers across the board. And they specifically called on and have called for the killing of police officers, especially white police officers.”
Black Lives Matter activist Melina Abdullah previously praised Beyonce for her new tune. [“It’s wonderful artists] are willing to raise social consciousness and use their artistry to advance social justice,” she said via Breitbart.
Ariel and April weren’t alone on Tuesday, though. The duo were also joined by more than 100 Beyonce supporters, who organized a counterprotest. The group held signs and stood in pro-Bey solidarity.
“Beyonce put on that spectacular Super Bowl performance. I thought it was amazing! And I started seeing, you know, the pushback. And I was annoyed by it, but I didn’t think it was a huge deal,” Brooklyn resident Tajh Sutton said.
“I came out here in support of Beyonce,” Queens native Frank Sha Francois added to Us. “Even more so, of the bold move that she made at the Super Bowl. I support artistic expression and the First Amendment right of Freedom of Speech.”
