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Video: Jessica Williams Takes On Beyoncé Haters Like Rudy Giuliani
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 9, 2016
Modified Feb 9, 2016
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 9, 2016
Modified Feb 9, 2016
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After dropping a new song with a politically and racially charged video, Beyonce dominated Super Bowl 50 with a halftime guest appearance featuring dancers in Black Panthers-inspired outfits. Of course, Rudy Giuliani wasn't going to take this kind of commentary from the world's most powerful celebrity.
On Fox & Friends, Giuliani sputtered, "This is football, not Hollywood, and I thought it was really outrageous that she used it as a platform to attack police officers who are the people who protect her and protect us, and keep us alive. 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."
The Daily Show's Jessica Williams had a somewhat different opinion on the matter:
Addressing Fox Business talking head Stuart Varney's question, "Why is race brought into the halftime show at a Super Bowl game?" Williams pointed out, "Race was brought in because Beyoncé was brought in and, brace yourself, you might want to sit down for this, but Beyoncé is...black! As a black person, you walk around everyday constantly reminded that you are black. We’re more likely to get paid less, we’re more likely to get sent to prison, and we’re more likely to win a dance competition. What? It’s not all bad."
Williams also deftly dismantled Giuliani's statement that "you're talking to middle America when you have the Super Bowl, so you can have entertainment. Let's have, you know, decent wholesome entertainment, and not use it as a platform to attack the people who, you know, put their lives at risk to save us." In response, the Daily Show's senior Beyoncé correspondent said, "You know what's in the middle of middle America? Ferguson, Missouri! But you’re right, you know what? The fans deserve wholesome entertainment. Like watching 300 pound men give each other concussions while the crowd cheers like we’re extras in Gladiator?"
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beyoncé
black lives matter
formation
rudy giuliani
super bowl 50
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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