AFTER a social media backlash, comedian Amy Schumer penned an essay defending the video she made dancing and lip syncing to Beyonce's 2016 hit "Formation," saying she made it out of admiration.
"It was NEVER a parody. It was just us women celebrating each other," Schumer wrote in the essay titled, Information about My 'Formation', which appeared on online publishing platform Medium on Thursday. Actresses Goldie Hawn, Wanda Sykes, Joan Cusack and Raven Goodwin were also in the video.
Schumer said that Beyonce and rapper Jay Z, her husband, had approved it and they streamed it last Friday on music service Tidal exclusively for the first 24 hours.
The hashtag "#AmySchumerGottaGoParty" went viral on Twitter after the video was released, with many calling Schumer's video culturally insensitive.
The "Trainwreck" screenwriter and star said her video was meant to bring women together. Beyonce's sixth solo album "Lemonade," which contains the single "Formation," was viewed as a power anthem to race and feminism.
Schumer said she considered that album "one of the greatest pieces of art of our time."
"If you watched it and it made you feel anything other than good, please know that was not my intention," Schumer said of her video. "The movie we made is fun and the women in it are strong and want to help each other. That’s what it was about for me."
She wrote that viewers had "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."
Reuters
Sat Oct 29 2016
Amy Schumer accepts the award for Best Actress in a Comedy for "Trainwreck" during the 21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California on Jan 17, 2016. - Reuters
'No one will win a trade war,' China says after Trump tariff threat
Donald Trump says he would impose the tariffs until China stops the flow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the United States.
What has caused Pakistan's deadly clashes between police and supporters of Imran Khan?
Topping the demands of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is the release of all its leaders, including Khan, who has been jailed on a series of corruption charges since August 2023.
One woman or girl killed every 10 minutes by intimate partner or family member - UN
The report highlights that "60 per cent of all female homicides" are committed by "people closely related to them".
Sweden urges Chinese ship to return for undersea cable investigation
Two subsea cables, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged in less than 24 hours.
[COLUMNIST] Building more highways won’t solve traffic congestion - reducing demand will
It is clear that adding more lanes and highways doesn't work, because we are still attempting the same approach to solve the issue.
Hyundai to invest RM2.16 bil in Malaysia through strategic partnership with INOKOM
This investment includes efforts to upgrade INOKOM's existing assembly capacity to meet Hyundai's automotive needs.
‘C4Cinta’ sets record as highest-grossing Malaysian Tamil film
'C4Cinta', directed by young filmmaker Karthik Shamalan, has set a new benchmark in Malaysian Tamil cinema.
Man charged with mother's murder, storing body in freezer
The court denied bail and scheduled case mention on Feb 7 for the submission of forensic, autopsy, and chemist reports.
Abolition of examination in schools to reduce pressure on pupils - Fadhlina
The classroom assessment approach offers a much more interesting learning ecosystem, says Fadhlina Sidek.
Google, Meta urge Australia to delay bill on social media ban for children
Google and Meta says the government should wait for the results of an age-verification trial before going ahead.
Judge tosses Trump 2020 election case after prosecutors' request
It represents a big legal victory for Donald Trump, who won the Nov. 5 US election and is set to return to office on Jan. 20.
DHL plane crash in Lithuania leaves authorities searching for answers
Rescue services said the plane hit the ground, split into pieces and slid over 100 metres (110 yards).
National squad to hold friendly matches for 2025 Indoor Hockey World Cup
The warm-up matches will involve matches against better ranked teams in the world, namely Austria (first) and Belgium (third).
G7 seeks unity on ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu
The United States, part of the G7, has rejected the ICC decision, with President Joe Biden describing it as outrageous.
Francissca Peter remembers Tan Sri Ahmad Nawab: A tribute to a musical legend
A legend who has influenced our music for decades, was one of the highlights of my career, says Francissca Peter.
TikTok decision coming soon as Jan. 19 divestment deadline looms
Judges are reviewing TikTok's challenge to a law requiring ByteDance to sell its US assets by Jan. 19 or face a ban.
Lebanese sources: Biden, Macron set to announce Israel-Hezbollah truce
In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said, "We're close" but "nothing is done until everything is done".
PM meets chaebol tycoon to attract more FDI to Malaysia
Chaebols are prominent figures from South Korea's family-owned conglomerates.
Govt won't allow non-citizen vehicles to enjoy RON95 subsidy - Economy Ministry
The implementation of the RON95 subsidy in 2025 is expected to provide savings of RM3.6 billion to government expenditure.
Ringgit opens lower as greenback gains ground
Dr Mohd Afzanizam says the market responded positively to news of hedge fund manager Scott Bessent heading the US Treasury Department.