Amy Schumer responds to criticism of her contentious 'Formation' video
When Amy Schumer released a video this week featuring a cast of female co-workers and herself dancing and lip-synching to Beyoncé's "Formation," #AmySchumerGottaGoParty began to trend on Twitter. It's fair to say that people were pissed pretty quickly.
On Thursday, the comedian responded to the onslaught of negative comments with an essay titled Information About My 'Formation'.
Many people saw her “Get in Formation" video as an offensive parody. Schumer's version features Goldie Hawn, Joan Cusack and Wanda Sykes, and people were not afraid to call the comedian out for centering two white women in a song that deals explicitly with themes of black female empowerment.
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Schumer first commented about the video in an Instagram post that thanked Tidal for the exclusive release. "You know you that bitch when you cause all this conversation. We had so much fun making this tribute," she wrote. "All love and women inspiring each other."
In the longer piece released Thursday, Schumer explained her motives behind filming the video, and referenced how watching Lemonade — paired with speeches from Hillary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama — inspired the cast of Schumer's latest film while off the clock.
"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," Schumer wrote in an essay called
"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 that video and didn’t see this as minimizing that and still don’t," she said.
"It was a way to celebrate bringing us all together," she explained. "To fight for what we all want. And to do it together."
Schumer goes on to explain that the video, which was approved by Beyoncé, was not a parody of the original music video.
"The video Beyoncé made was so moving and I wouldn’t ever make fun of that," she said. "There is absolutely no way to. I make fun of myself a few times in the video as I do in everything I am a part of."
The comedian doesn't explicitly apologize in her essay, but rather explains any feelings "other than good" were not her intention. "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."
Schumer has been criticized for being tone deaf on matters of race and telling jokes that perpetuate stereotypes at times, specifically in her standup routines. In 2015, the comedian offered up a response to those calling her out on Twitter.
You can read her full comments on the "Get in Formation" video here, and watch the original masterpiece by Queen Bey below.
