Amy Schumer cites Hillary Clinton and Beyoncé as inspirations for her “Formation” video
Comedian Amy Schumer has extended her response to the recent controversy surrounding a video she posted online last week, showing her and co-stars Joan Cusack, Wanda Sykes, and Goldie Hawn dancing to Beyonce’s “Formation.” Posted to Medium, “Information About My ‘Formation’” discusses Schumer’s inspiration for filming the video, and clarifies that she had permission from Beyoncé to make it and post it online via Tidal.
“Saying I love Beyoncé’s album Lemonade is a huge understatement,” Schumer starts. “I believe it is one of the greatest pieces of art of our time.” She goes on to discuss how the album—and Hillary Clinton’s nomination as the Democratic candidate for president—was a running theme on her current movie set. “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. All of the women on set were bonded together from this music and from the election simultaneously.”
Schumer also addressed claims that her video was an act of cultural appropriation, or that she was making light of the themes—including the killing of Black Americans by police—addressed in the original video. “It was NEVER a parody. It was just us women celebrating each other. The video Beyoncé made was so moving and I wouldn’t ever make fun of that.” She also punched back at detractors, saying,
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. 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. #strongertogether #alllove.