Super Bowl Boycott: Beyoncé May Never Headline Another Super Bowl Performance If These Viewers Have Their Way
The Super Bowl may be facing a different type of boycott if some disappointed viewers have their way. Although most game day arguments center around the gridiron match, this year’s Super Bowl has sparked numerous racial debates.
By now, the vast majority of Americans who tuned in have seen or heard all about Beyoncé’s edgy Super Bowl halftime performance. For those who missed it, Beyoncé’s “Formation” performance took many viewers by surprise, because it wasn’t your normal Queen Bey Super Bowl halftime performance. There were no renditions of your favorite Destiny’s Child classics or the latest dance craze to sweep the nation.
By the end of the Super Bowl halftime performance, tons of viewers were outraged and immediately took to Twitter to voice their frustrations and boycott Beyoncé. Since its no secret she and her husband, Jay-Z, are advocates for the Black Lives Matter movement, many outraged pro-cop advocates weren’t pleased with the seemingly harsh message her politically charged performance implied, according to Business Insider.
“I think it was outrageous,” Rudy Giuliani said of Beyonce’s Super Bowl performance, according to Billboard. “The halftime show I thought was ridiculous anyway. I don’t know what the heck it was. A bunch of people bouncing around and all strange things. It was terrible.”
He added, “And what we should be doing in the African-American community, and all communities, is build up respect for police officers. And focus on the fact that when something does go wrong, okay. We’ll work on that. But the vast majority of police officers risk their lives to keep us safe….let’s have decent, wholesome entertainment.”
Now, they’re calling for Beyoncé to be boycotted from the Super Bowl due to the song, which is now being coined an anti-police anthem. In addition to the hashtag #BoycottBeyonce that is circulating on the social network, many social media users have also threatened to boycott the Super Bowl, citing racism in Beyoncé’s performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Hgh7sPDLM
Here are some of the tweets from frustrated viewers and law enforcement advocacy groups.
#BoycottBeyoncé isn't pro-police, it's pro-#policebrutality. #blacklivesmatter #SB50 pic.twitter.com/iVdXC7NpTV
— Chris Tuttle (@ChrisTuttle) February 8, 2016
According to the Washington Examiner, members of the National Sheriff’s Association also tuned in for the Super Bowl halftime performance, and they’ve also verbalized their support of the boycott. Not only are they angry with Beyoncé’s performance, but they’re also outraged that the NFL would allow the song to be performed since so many people find it offensive.
Despite the flood of complaints from unhappy viewers, NFL officials have yet to release a statement in response to the outrage and proposed Super Bowl boycott. However, the vast majority of those who proudly represent the BeyHive were quite pleased with her Super Bowl performance. Some have even taken to social media in defense of the “Flawless” singer. Although many Super Bowl viewers have expressed desires to boycott the singer and the highly-publicized sporting event, this actually isn’t the first time Beyoncé has faced backlash for a seemingly controversial song. The 2011 release of her anthem “Run The World (Girls)” also garnered criticism from many critics who felt she took a relatively dogmatic approach to feminism.
The buzz around “Run The World (Girls)” eventually waned, but it doesn’t look like “Formation” will be going away anytime soon, because the Super Bowl was only the beginning. Shortly after the Super Bowl boycott posts hit social media, Beyoncé’ announced the “Formation World Tour,” which is set to kick off at the end of April. The seemingly controversial movement will continue through the summer before she heads overseas.
Do you think Beyoncé or the Super Bowl should be boycotted because of the song? Share your thoughts.
[Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]
