Beyoncé has been a political lightning rod all year thanks to her defiant songs championing the right to protest and criticize abuses of power. But she hasn’t made an official election endorsement — until now.
Beyoncé’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton was also a pointed message to her own critics
Beyonce endorsed Clinton, performed “Formation” in a pantsuit, twirled on her haters.
Caroline Framke wrote about culture, which usually means television. Also seen @ The A.V. Club, The Atlantic, Complex, Flavorwire, NPR, the fridge to get more seltzer.
On November 4 in Cleveland, Ohio, Beyoncé and her husband, Jay Z, headlined a star-packed Hillary Clinton concert to state unequivocally that they — two of pop culture’s most powerful figures — are with her.
After performing “Formation,” “Freedom,” and “Run the World (Girls)” — a carefully chosen slate of songs if there ever was one — Beyoncé gave a speech that tied Barack Obama’s historic candidacy to Clinton’s:
Eight years ago, I was so inspired that my nephew, a young black child, could grow up knowing his dreams could be realized by witnessing a black president in office ... and now, we have the opportunity to create more change. I want my daughter to grow up seeing a woman lead our country and know that her possibilities are limitless.
Jay Z, for his part, called Donald Trump’s words too “divisive.” Beyoncé wasn’t quite as direct in calling out Trump, but said she wanted to vote for someone who cares for the future of children as much as she does — adding, “That is why I’m with her.”
Celebrity endorsements are a routine part of election season by now, and Clinton’s had more than her fair share of them since winning the Democratic nomination. But this show of support from Beyoncé and Jay Z is more pointed than most.
Beyoncé in particular has become something of a political flashpoint in this campaign. In February, she released “Formation,” a music video that openly mourned the way New Orleans was treated after Hurricane Katrina, criticized police killings of black citizens, and defiantly celebrated her black heritage in the face of such discrimination.
She then performed “Formation” during Coldplay’s Super Bowl halftime show, flanked by backup dancers in outfits reminiscent of the Black Panthers. Beyoncé has been the subject of conservative ire ever since, with pundits and politicians alike saying that she was unfairly attacking the police. Last week, she performed alongside the Dixie Chicks at the Country Music Awards, sparking backlash from some viewers who were smarting from what they view to be her “anti-police” stance.
“Formation” came up again after the Access Hollywood tape of Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women leaked. Trump surrogates argued that his language was no worse than Clinton’s support for Beyoncé, who uses sexually explicit language. (Yes, really.)
So when Beyoncé and her backup dancers stepped onstage in the battleground state of Ohio four days before the election and performed “Formation” in matching pantsuits, rest assured: They knew exactly what they were doing.
Corrected to reflect that this event was not a fundraiser.
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