Reaction from nut jobs on the right and the left to Beyoncé’s Super Bowl 2013 performance has been beyond comprehension. There’s a problem in America when everyone from PETA to Laura Ingraham have displayed their jealousy of the singer by attacking her.
Sunday night Twitter largely was ablaze with praise for her performance, including myself. A sexy, leather clad Beyoncé, who reunited with Destiny’s Child, turned out a phenomenal performance and critics agreed it was one of the best half time shows ever! This was reinforced by the fact the Super Bowl 2013 drew the third largest number of viewers in its history.
Let’s return to the crazy talk against Beyoncé, which demonstrates how screwed up Americans have become and highlights the extremism taking root in our country. PETA condemned Beyoncé for wearing a leather leotard made of lizard, iguana and leather.
"We would take a bet that if Beyoncé watched our video exposes, she'd probably not want to be seen again in anything made of snakes, lizards, rabbits or other animals who died painfully. Today's fashions are trending toward humane vegan options, and Beyoncé’s Super Bowl outfit missed the mark on that score."
Ah, PETA focusing on the important issues of the day. Beyoncé’s outfit didn’t “miss the mark” neither did her performance. Last time I looked, this is America and she can wear what she damn well pleases.
Speaking of Beyoncé’s attire, her sexy leather costume and performance really ruffled conservatives’ feathers, sending their morality meters literally into the red.
Conservative commentator Laura Ingraham tweeted:
“Very family-friendly dancing S&M by Beyoncé. What every girl shd aspire to. #waronwomen.”
Granted before I saw Ingraham’s tweet, I tweeted “Beyonce channeling little S&M. Just saying not hating. #SuperBowl”
But Ingraham’s tweet was loaded with ridiculousness because performances like Beyoncé’s are just that, performances. There was no war on women as Ingraham tweeted nor did Beyoncé portray a negative image of women during her Super Bowl performance. Young girls do aspire to be Beyonce: a very successful, married, black mom, who if anything is a role model for marriage, an institution Republicans adore. Beyoncé’s hit song "Single Ladies" warns men the way to keep a woman is to marry her by putting “a ring on it.”
What’s Laura’s real problem with Beyonce? I don’t remember Ingraham demonstrating the same contempt and disgust for Victoria Secret’s annual fashion show which is broadcast to millions, featuring women in bras, panties and teddies, far less clothing than Beyonce donned at the Super Bowl. Does Laura think former infamous Victoria Secret model Heidi Klum isn’t a fit role model for young girls too?
But Laura wasn’t the only one sitting on her high horse calling Beyoncé’s attire and performance as an example of moral turpitude. Some of my twitter followers, male and female, accused Beyonce of looking like a “slut” and not wanting their daughters to dress like her.
“@GOPBlackChick Okay. Politics aside, Beyonce is a trashy whore,” howled one of my followers. Before I blocked her I tweeted Beyoncé is a happily married, mom and certainly no whore.
A male even tweeted at me that it was women like Beyonce who brought out the lust in men. Uh, no the lust is there and men choose to act on it.
These haters were silenced when I reminded them entertainers don’t parent their children they do. If people like Laura were so bothered by Beyoncé’s gyrating and feared for their daughters they should do two things. Turn off their televisions and be a parent. I added if parents don’t want their 13-year-old daughters dressing like 31-year-old Beyoncé, they shouldn’t let them. But there’s nothing wrong or immoral with women dressing sexy.
Admittedly, I criticized Beyonce for not singing live at President Obama’s second inaugural. It was poor judgment on her part because it showed a lack of respect for our democratic process but it didn’t mean Beyonce wasn’t a great performer. PETA’s comment was certainly petty but not surprising.
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