Fox 13 in Tampa reports that not one Tampa Police officer has signed up to do duty at Beyoncé’s upcoming concert. This is because her new song “Formation” has an anti-cop message (she performed this at the Super Bowl, see above picture).
Officers who are off-duty agree to work concerts and sporting events at the venue for extra income, but none have signed up to work security for Beyonce’s concert on April 29 at Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Police Department spokesperson Steve Hegarty was unable to tell FOX 13 News if the lack of names on the list revealed officers’ feelings about Beyonce or the recent controversy surrounding her music and the Super Bowl halftime show where she and a group of dancers wore outfits themed after the Black Panthers.
“We’re going to staff it because we have a responsibility to do that regardless of how controversial it might be, who the artist might be, or the politician might be,” Hegarty explained. “This is a couple of months away, so we’ve still got plenty of time to fill those slots.”
Other law enforcement officers across the nation have spoken out against Beyonce’s “Formation” music video, which is set in New Orleans and features a wall that reads “Stop shooting us,” and shows Beyonce standing on top of a sinking police cruiser.
Beyoncé’s mom (center) and her back up dancers.