Beyoncé's Super Bowl halftime show was a feat, filled with spot-on choreography, incredible fireworks, and a stunning performance overall.
But some people took issue with the political messages of the show — specifically its references to the Black Panthers, Malcolm X, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Fox Business anchor Stuart Varney asked, "Is there really anything in America which can exclude race?"
On Monday night, Jessica Williams at The Daily Show took on the haters:
Race was brought in because Beyoncé was brought in. And brace yourself, you might want to sit down for this, but Beyoncé is black. And as a black person, you walk around everyday constantly reminded that you are black — we're more likely to get paid less, we're more likely to get sent to prison, and we're more likely to win a dance competition. (What? It's not all bad.)
The point is Beyoncé is black and this song is her message. That's what artists do: Their message is in their music. Like how Chris Martin [of Coldplay] wore his Global Citizen armband to promote his message of ending worldwide poverty.
Williams also took issue with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's comments about the halftime show. He said on Fox and Friends, "You're talking to middle America when you have the Super Bowl. So if you can have entertainment, let's have decent, wholesome entertainment."
Williams responded:
Are you saying that you can't talk about race issues to middle America? What are they — so delicate and unaware and maybe so white that Beyoncé is too much for them?
You know what's in the middle of America? Ferguson, Missouri.
Williams raises a good point: Would people take issue with the message if it were something else? After all, no one took issue with Martin's armband.
But for some people, some issues — despite the evidence of racial disparities all over American society and particularly the criminal justice system — are apparently just too much.
