Amy Schumer Under Fire for ‘Racist’ Beyoncé Parody Video

Comedian Amy Schumer has found herself accused of racism after appearing in a parody video filmed on the set of an upcoming movie.

The 35-year-old Trainwreck actress starred in a parody music video of Beyoncé’s hit song “Formation” that was posted to YouTube late Saturday and later set social media ablaze. Amid a torrent of criticism aimed at the comedy star, the Twitter hashtag  #AmySchumerGottaGoParty trended early Monday.

The video, which Schumer tweeted a link to over the weekend, also stars actress Goldie Hawn and comedian Wanda Sykes and shows the women dancing in a jungle wearing dirty and torn clothing. The video was apparently shot on the set of an upcoming comedy film starring Hawn and Schumer set for release next year.

Okay ladies watch us get in formation https://t.co/qu5GBjMozl

— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) October 23, 2016

Hawn also tweeted our the video, writing, “Watch @amyschumer and I get in FORMATION in Hawaii with @iamwandasykes and Joan Cusack. We had way too much fun!”

Watch @amyschumer and I get in FORMATION in Hawaii with @iamwandasykes and Joan Cusack. We had way too much fun! https://t.co/pLezEKgAz6

— Goldie Hawn (@goldiehawn) October 24, 2016

But backlash for the Beyoncé-inspired video came quickly, with several social media users wondering why Schumer would “appropriate a song that’s LITERALLY about black female empowerment.”

There is no possible excuse for @AmySchumer not to know the cultural significance of #Formation for black women.I hope this hurts her career

— Victoria Weinstein (@peacebang) October 24, 2016

It is weird to me that @amyschumer thought a song about the police killing black people was perfect for a parody #AmySchumerGottaGoParty

— Andrea Johnson (@ndreajohnson) October 24, 2016

Also Amy Schumer continues to be trash and disrespectful like she doesn't have access to open conversations about race and black women pic.twitter.com/f7XDGXiVox

— employ your common sense (@BooksBakesBio) October 24, 2016

https://twitter.com/CiCiAdams_/status/790354084192784384

Schumer’s parody video was initially posted as an exclusive on Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s music streaming service TIDAL, a fact not lost on one user.

I'm coming to the #AmySchumerGottaGoParty but I'm a sit in the corner and glare at Jay-Z for putting that shit on Tidal. pic.twitter.com/UhriOjrP2b

— Big Sister NefertitiEdgesKinky (@We2DopeGirls) October 24, 2016

This is why I started #AmySchumerGottaGoParty https://t.co/fB0RvNmUTV

— ♈️☀️~Femme~🌙♌️ (@FeministaJones) October 24, 2016

The controversy over the video comes one week after Schumer made headlines for an incident at one of her stand-up comedy performances.

Last week, the comedian repeatedly bashed Donald Trump at a stand-up show at Tampa’s Amalie Arena. As Breitbart News reported, about 200 audiences members booed and then bailed on the show after the comedy star tore into the Republican presidential candidate, calling him an “orange, sexual-assaulting, fake-college-starting monster.”

Schumer reacted to the event at a performance later that week at Madison Square Garden by reading an open letter she penned to the Trump supporters who left the show, stating that she would attend a “rehab facility” that would teach her how to “make all people happy.”

 

Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter: @JeromeEHudson