Police are now turning their backs on Queen Bee Beyoncé.
Beyoncé sparked outrage following her “Formation” music video and Super Bowl performance. So many people were upset with the Beyonce that even Saturday Night Live felt compelled to poke fun at the latest bit of controversy.
While many people on Twitter are taken this new musical revolution as a joke, several police officers are now claiming that Beyoncé is “inciting bad behavior” and endangering law enforcement.
This morning’s #boycottBeyonce protest turned into a pro-Beyoncé rally pic.twitter.com/KSDV0XqHTn
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) February 17, 2016
According to a report by the Washington Post, Sheriff Robert Arnold says the level of anti-police sentiment in America is increasing all thanks to Beyoncé. In fact, Sheriff Robert Arnold held a press conference bashing Beyoncé after gun shots were fired outside of his home.
“With everything that happened since the Super Bowl… that’s what I’m thinking: Here’s another target on law enforcement,” he said.
He went on: “You have Beyoncé’s video and that’s kind of bled over into other things, it seems.”
In a subsequent statement, Arnold said that his remarks “reflect the violence and senseless killing of seven deputies in the U.S. since the show aired. My comments are an observation of the violence that has occurred but in no way is meant to offend anyone.”
America has a target on Beyoncé’s head after many people say her Super Bowl show featured a dangerous anti-police message. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s department even sent a letter to the NFL complaining of its decision to air the Super Bowl Half Time show.
“At this point, I think the NFL had a serious error in judgment,” he said.
Police who “make errors of judgment” should be held accountable, Thompson said, but Beyoncé’s went too far.
“We call on the NFL to separate itself from that message,” State Troopers Fraternal Association of N.J. President Christopher Burgos wrote in the letter addressed to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
A lot of this distrust and hate for Beyoncé comes from the Black Panther symbolism featured in her music video and Super Bowl Show. Many opponents against Beyoncé cite the 1973 murder of state trooper Werner Foerster at the hands of former Black Panther Party member Joanne Chesimard.
“It cannot be denied that the black panthers have assassinated officers and troopers who were upholding the constitution and rule of law, keeping everyone in our society, regardless of color or creed safe,” he wrote.
Even former Republican presidential nominee and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliana called the Super Bowl performance “outrageous.”
Some police officers are putting money to where their mouth is and are allegedly boycotting Beyonce by refusing to provide security at her concerts. According to Fox 13, requests for Tampa Bay Police Department to work on the Beyoncé concert have been left blank. Typically, police officers who are off-duty agree to work concerts and sporting events at the venue for extra money, but none have signed up to work security for Beyoncé’s upcoming concert on April 29th at Raymond James Stadium.
Beyonce has taken a lot of heat for her new song “Formation,” which critics claim has an anti-cop message. Some Tampa Police officers might agree, if the request to work her upcoming Tampa concert is any indication. No one has agreed to do it.
As reports suggest, it’s not clear if this is a clear protest against Beyoncé or if it’s a coincidence.
Image credit: T photography / Shutterstock.com
