Sheriff links Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’ to shots outside his home and deaths of 7 officers

Feb 17, 2016

On Tuesday, Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold suggested that a rise in anti-police crime after Beyoncé’s Super Bowl 50 halftime show was responsible for shots being fired outside of his home.

Arnold reportedly said that he did not know why he was being targeted, as he had not received any recent threats.

“Do I feel like they did this because of where I live? I think that’s it. I don’t think of it being anywhere else,” Arnold said during a press conference.

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Then, when asked by a reporter if he had considered the possibility of being targeted because he was in law enforcement, Arnold said, “Well, that’s what I actually thought about. Once I kind of figured everything out, you know, with everything that’s happened since the Super Bowl, and with law enforcement as a whole.”

Watch the press conference here

He then referred to the loss of seven officers since the Super Bowl 50 halftime show, saying, “I mean, I think we have lost five to seven officers, five deputies and sheriffs since Sunday’s Super Bowl. You know, that’s what I am thinking. You know, here is another target on law enforcement.”

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He continued, “Well, you have Beyonce’s video and how that’s kind of led over into other things, it seems like, about law enforcement.”

Arnold was, according to a sheriff’s department press release after his comments were made, referring to a statement by the National Sheriff’s Association that read, “The senseless killing of four law enforcement officers just this week – on the heels of the anti-police “entertainment” at the Sunday Super Bowl halftime show – reminds us that the men and women in law enforcement take a solemn oath that includes putting their lives on the line every day to protect our citizens.”

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Arnold also released a statement after his comments were made in which he did not back away from his comments but did say that he did not mean to offend anyone.

“My comments reflect the violence and senseless killing of seven deputies in the US since the show aired,” Arnold’s statement read. “My comments are an observation of the violence that has occurred but in no way is meant to offend anyone.”