Beyoncé’s newest album Lemonade got everybody talking. British journalist and television personality Piers Morgan was one of the people who criticized the pop diva for being “too political”. His controversial comments received backlash from thousands of people on Twitter, and actor Matt McGorry was quick to tell Morgan exactly why he was wrong.
It all started when Piers Morgan wrote a review of Lemonade where he questioned why she focused on politics and race. He then referred to an old interview from 2011 where Beyoncé said that she would rather be recognized for her talent than her race. Morgan wondered why this had changed and also commented that he did not like it at all.
Morgan then continued to question Beyoncé’s character for choosing to show he mothers of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, two young black men who were killed by the police in America. He accused her of using the tragic situation to gain album sales.
I feel uncomfortable about Beyoncé using grieving mothers to sell albums. My new column:https://t.co/cP3eu5asak pic.twitter.com/pPMH5tbVUp
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 25, 2016
However, this statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Beyoncé has always been supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement. She is a proud, black woman who’s fighting against injustice. When the innocent Trayvon Martin was murdered by the police, Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, marched quietly in rally in New York City in July 2013. Back then Jay-Z told MSNBC’s Al Sharpton, who organised the event, that “I’m a father. Beyoncé is a mother.’ We all feel the pain and apprehension — the law must protect everybody, or it doesn’t protect anybody. We do not come from hate, we come from love of children.” Beyoncé also weighed in on the grand jury’s decision to not indict Darren Wilson for the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. Back then, she shared a statement from the Brown family on Instagram.
Many people on social media pointed out that Morgan being uncomfortable with Beyoncé’s new music show a lot about him as a person. Many also said that he didn’t have to be able to relate to it because the album wasn’t made with privileged, white men in mind. The album was made to raise awareness about injustice and police brutality. If Piers Morgan doesn’t understand why Beyoncé is being political “all of a sudden”, then maybe he should think about why it’s necessary. There has been an increase in innocent, black people being targeted by the police. Why should Beyoncé stay silent just because she’s a musician? Why can’t she use her art to raise awareness? She is using her music to signal that she wants this to stop and that we should all do something to end injustice.
This isn’t the first time Beyoncé has been political either. In 2013, she released the track Superpower featuring Frank Ocean. The music video is about police brutality.
Piers Morgan’s replies to people calling him out also show that he doesn’t understand why he’s wrong. He says that the album is “too race-fuelled” for his liking. However, he doesn’t seem to be able to say exactly why he finds the race talk uncomfortable. Does it make him uncomfortable to see these people being mistreated by the law enforcement? Does it make him uncomfortable to be reminded that some people aren’t as privileged as he is? He also says that Beyoncé “talks a lot about race”. Did he expect an album full of dance tracks when black people are suffering? Beyoncé finds these issues important because she’s a black woman. Yes, she’s living a privileged life now because of her successful career, but that doesn’t mean that she’s forgetting who she is or where she comes from. Her race is a part of who she is and she can’t stay silent while people like her are still being treated unfairly.
No, just too political & race-fuelled for my liking.
https://t.co/C81LQb1cYr— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 25, 2016
Well, Beyoncé talks a lot about race & I didn't enjoy all the music on Lemonade. Do I have to?
https://t.co/DfTbIBSh4M— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 26, 2016
This made Matt McGorry confront Morgan. He informed him that if he’s uncomfortable by race talk then he is indirectly being racist.
.@piersmorgan respect" for her (as an artist & businesswoman) doesn't mean you can't also be supporting racism (unbeknownst to you). It's no
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) April 25, 2016
.@piersmorgan different than saying you have "black friends" and therefore can't be racist. Do you agree with that?
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) April 25, 2016
McGorry’s tweets made Morgan defend himself by saying, “I think I’m allowed to critique Beyoncé’s new very political work without being branded racist.” Morgan’s reply got McGorry to explain, very detailed, exactly why Morgan’s wrong. He wrote, “I think it depends what aspect of the work you’re critiquing. If you don’t like the melodies that’s one thing. But if you’re critiquing her way of speaking about her experiences as a black woman (something you and I will never experience) you are essentially colluding with the status quo (which is the silencing and discrimination of black women). Truth is, no one sees themselves as racist. I can even imagine the KKK saying, “We aren’t racist it’s just that black people…” Racism exists on a spectrum and you don’t have to “feel hateful” to be doing a disservice to anti-racism and thus, supporting racism. Make sense?”
One would think that this would make Piers Morgan rethink his original statements or show that he’s at least listening to what he’s being told. Instead, he accused McGorry of trying to make himself look good. Morgan didn’t want to admit that he might have been wrong.
He didn't 'school' me on anything. He just put his halo on like he normally does to make himself popular. https://t.co/f4M04C78HE
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 26, 2016
.@piersmorgan Does the "halo thing" mean I'm saying stuff I don't believe? Or that my beliefs are deserving of a halo? Genuine question.
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) April 26, 2016
.@piersmorgan I don't believe ur TRYING to do harm. Something to think about re: her work being "too political" ?? pic.twitter.com/oHXBD4V4JV
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) April 26, 2016
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