Getty ImagesIt turns out not everyone is obsessed with Beyoncé.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani slammed the songstress' performance at Super Bowl 50, where she broke out her new song, "Formation." Appearing on Fox & Friends Monday, Giuliani criticized her for putting her first in the air as an homage to the "Black Power" salute. She also had her backup dancers wear berets in the style of the Black Panthers.
"I think it was outrageous," Giuliani said the show, including Bruno Mars' and Coldplay's performances. He also noted that it's "football, not Hollywood." In addition to their statement-making outfits, some of Beyoncé's backup dancers also held up signs that read "Justice for Mario Woods." He had been shot and killed by San Francisco police in December.
The politician felt Bey was disrespecting law enforcement with her performance. He acknowledged that there have been bad incidents, but on the whole he felt police should be respected as they try to protect communities. "I thought it was really outrageous that she used it as a platform to attack police officers who are the people who protect her and protect us, and keep us alive," he said.
"And what we should be doing in the African-American community, and all communities, is build up respect for police officers. And focus on the fact that when something does go wrong, okay. We'll work on that," he continued. "But the vast majority of police officers risk their lives to keep us safe."
When co-host Brian Kilmeade wondered whether the NFL had any clue about what was going to happen, Giuliani was aghast. In his opinion, the NFL should've anticipated it. "Can't you figure out who you're putting on?" Giuliani asked. "I mean this is a political position, she's probably going to take advantage of it. You're talking to middle America when you have the Super Bowl, so you can have entertainment."
He continued, "Let's have, you know, decent wholesome entertainment, and not use it as a platform to attack the people who, you know, put their lives at risk to save us."
Beyoncé released the song as a surprise Saturday and also dropped a politically charged music video to go with it. The video is set in New Orleans and includes flood scenes that make reference to Hurricane Katrina, as well as a shot of Beyoncé standing on top of a floating police squad car. The "Single Ladies" singer's daughter Blue Ivy Carter, 4, also makes an appearance, as does Martin Luther King Jr. and a set of riot police.