Piers Morgan faces backlash over his "Lemonade" criticisms
TV personality Piers Morgan was not a big fan of Beyonce's latest work, to put it lightly.
Morgan penned an op-ed for the Daily Mail complaining that Beyonce's new visual album, "Lemonade," continues a trend in the singer's work he doesn't very much care for -- namely her attention to racial and political issues.
Morgan took particular issue with her mention of Black Lives Matter and the Black Panthers, calling her "Formation" video and Super Bowl performance from earlier this year "anti-police." He also called into question featuring the mothers of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown, claiming she was exploiting their grief for the sake of record sales.
"Beyonce [five years ago] was unrecognizable from the militant activist we see now. Then, she was at pains to be seen as an entertainer and musician and not as a black woman who sings. Now, it seems to be the complete opposite," Morgan wrote.
"The new Beyonce wants to be seen as a black woman political activist first and foremost, entertainer and musician second. I still think she's a wonderful singer and performer, and some of the music on 'Lemonade' is fantastic. But I have to be honest, I preferred the old Beyonce."
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and many Beyonce fans online had opinions about Morgan's words.
"You are rich and famous so just ignore the injustices others face and shut up and dance Beyoncé" - @piersmorgan cc @cthagod
— ayo (@AyoT4life) April 26, 2016
will his racist, misogynist attack on Beyoncé be enough to take hateful @piersmorgan out? his ageist & sexist Madonna comments nearly did.
— David Russell (@17days) April 25, 2016
Oh, gee, I hope that clueless, talentless, culturally empty twit @piersmorgan doesn't lose respect for Beyonce!
— GAIL SIMONE (@GailSimone) April 25, 2016
HOW WILL SHE SURVIVE.
Piers Morgan liked Beyonce better when she was making her blackness palatable for white ppl. Now that she's unapologetically Black, tho...
— ☔️ Imani Gandy ☔️ (@AngryBlackLady) April 25, 2016
*spoons piers morgan*
— John DeVore (@JohnDeVore) April 25, 2016
*whispers*
nobody cares what you think about beyonce
And it turns out Morgan heard them, though he didn't necessarily have the reaction they'd like.
Note to #BeyHive: I won't be changing my opinion however loud you scream or however many death threats you spit at me. #Beyonce
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 26, 2016