Last week, Amy Schumer and Goldie Shawn were dragged up and down social media after they remade Beyoncé’s “Formation” video. Many thought that the video was insensitive and minimized the powerful effect that it was intended to have for Black women. While Schumer tried to play it off, it looks like the criticism has finally gotten to her because she has broken her silence via an open apology letter published on Medium.
First and foremost, the comedienne shared that she was moved to create the video after feeling a sense of empowerment from watching Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton speak during the DNC this summer. While she was filming her movie, she said, “We would rush back to our televisions or phones to watch a stream of CNN to see the convention and watch Hillary and Michelle and so many extraordinary women speak.” She also credits dancing to the Lemonade album for getting her through filming and for her being able to bond with the other ladies on set. “All of the women on set were bonded together from this music and from the election simultaneously. It was such a powerful time.”
That is why Schumer decided to pay homage, in a way, to Formation, because it was such a compelling song. She actually explained why she loves the lyrics so much. “I love how in the lyrics of “Formation” Beyoncé is telling us to get in formation. And also I like to think she is telling us ladies to get information,” the comedienne said. She continued, “I did not mean to detract any of the meaning from the video. I am of course horrified and sickened by the events that are addressed throughout [Beyoncé’s] video and didn’t see [my video] as minimizing that and still don’t. It was a way to celebrate bringing us all together. To fight for what we all want. And to do it together.”
Schumer’s “Formation” video wasn’t really meant to be a parody, either. Instead, it was just meant to be uplifting! Still, Amy Schumer remains firm in her stance and promises that she will continue with her mission to empower women. “You have every right to feel however you feel about the video and me but I want you to know I’m not going anywhere,” she wrote. “Use whatever hashtag you like. My mission is to continue to work as hard as I can to empower women and make them laugh and feel better and I won’t let anything stop me.”
You can read the rest of her letter here. Roommates, for those of you who were offended by Amy’s remake, do you accept her apology?
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on Instagram & @tallyohhh on Twitter!
Source: https://medium.com/@amyschumer/information-about-my-formation-b416d2adfc71#.gy9xfqgh6
