Beyoncé is busy these days, gearing up for the release of her next album, preparing the sales date on her Ivy Park workout collection and, well, being her fearless self.
In a new interview with Elle, she spoke about her self, specifically her art and her song “Formation” and the accompanying video.
The song sends a strong message about her roots as a Black woman and in the video she addressed police violence happening in African-American neighborhoods.
Critics, however, sneered at the imagery and labeled Bey “anti-police,” a claim she’s responding to and labeling as “misunderstood.”
“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,” she told the magazine. “I have so much admiration and respect for officers and the families of officers who sacrifice themselves to keep 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 a part of a conversation that is pushing things forward in a positive way.”