Beyoncé says critics who call her anti-police are 'completely mistaken'

Beyonce states she is not anti-police in latest interview.
(Image credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Queen has spoken: Beyoncé defended herself against claims that she is anti-police in a rare interview given to Elle. While most of the questions in the interview centered around the creation of her new athletic fashion line, Beyoncé also addressed criticisms that first arose after the release of her music video for "Formation."

The video, set in New Orleans, features Beyoncé perched atop a half- submerged police car and shows a child dancing in front of police wearing riot gear. The song was also performed during Beyoncé's Super Bowl halftime show and was slammed by members of the National Sheriff's Association; the Miami Fraternal Order of Police even urged a boycott of Beyoncé's world tour for what was preceived as an anti-police Black Lives Matter message.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.