Beyonce supports ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaign at awards
BEYONCE MADE a stand with campaigners behind the movement formed to highlight the systemic racism against black people before she went on to collect the top honours at MTV’s Video Music Awards.
The star-studded show at Madison Square Garden in New York saw Beyonce take home the video of the year award for
Formation and best female video for Hold Up, as well as deliver a 16-minute performance of tracks from her hit album, Lemonade.
The Single Ladies singer arrived at the event with her four-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, and supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, including Sybrina Fulton, the mother of murdered teenager Trayvon Martin.
Formed in 2013, the Black Lives Matter group is an international activist movement which is campaigning against racism that it claims is endemic in society in the wake of police killings and gun violence.
After winning video of the year, Beyonce thanked her daughter and “incredible” husband Jay Z for their support.
Rihanna performed four separate medleys of her biggest hits throughout the show after she received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, MTV’s equivalent of a lifetime achievement honour.
Presenters on Sunday night’s event included recent Olympic gold medallists, swimmer Michael Phelps and US gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian.