Beyoncé Made a Major Political Statement in her Super Bowl Halftime Performance

Beyonce’s Super Bowl halftime performance of her new single “Formation” has received a large amount of post-game attention, stemming not from a reaction to artistry of the performance, but the political message it contained.
Beyoncé Made a Major Political Statement in her Super Bowl Halftime Performance
Beyonce and Chris Martin perform during Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 7, 2016. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Jonathan Zhou
Updated:

Beyonce’s Super Bowl halftime performance of her new single, “Formation,” has received a large amount of post-game attention, stemming not from a reaction to its artistry, but the political message it apparently contained.

Her back-ups dancers were dressed in black leather and berets that bore resemblance to the uniforms of the Black Panthers, a black nationalist paramilitary group, some noted. In one point in the performance, Beyonce and her dancers shook their fists in the air in unison, a possible reference to the 1968 Olympics black power salute.

Beyonce (L) performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Beyonce (L) performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. Harry How/Getty Images

Jonathan Zhou
Jonathan Zhou
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Jonathan Zhou is a tech reporter who has written about drones, artificial intelligence, and space exploration.