CNN Anchor Shows Off EPIC Beyoncé Tour Shoes — Defends Star Over Skin-Lightening Controversy
CNN anchor Victor Blackwell took out an epic pair of Beyoncé tour shoes as he talked about her new film Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé and defended the superstar over claims she changed her skin color.
The tour film opens wide this weekend, amid criticism from some over her appearance during the premier of the film.
On Saturday morning’s edition of CNN’s First of All With Victor Blackwell, Blackwell busted out his tour shoes as he welcomed CNN Senior Entertainment Reporter Lisa France to talk about the film and push back against the haters:
VICTOR BLACKWELL: It’s a big weekend for music lovers, maybe especially for the Beyhive. Beyonce’s new movie Renaissance, a film by Beyoncé, hit theaters around the world this week. Fans started filing into theaters here Thursday night to see the films documenting Beyonce’s Renaissance World tour. Joining us now to discuss, CNN senior entertainment reporter Lisa France. And if we are doing a Renaissance story, Renaissance shoes have to be on!
LISA FRANCE: Here come the shoes!
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Listen, every time, I paid for these shoes, I wonder one concert and we talk Renaissance, I’m getting my money’s worth. Absolutely. This is a big moment for the Beyhive.
LISA FRANCE: Huge.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Yeah. Are we seeing the numbers that they expected around the country?
LISA FRANCE: Yes, we are. Yeah. Reportedly, we’re looking at about 5 million so far. They are projecting about 20 million for the weekend, possibly more. And if so, that would be the biggest opening for the first weekend in December in like 20 years, since Tom Cruise’s Last Samurai.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Okay. So let me ask you about the controversy, the questions about her complexion. Some people said they were triggered. Her mother defended her and said she didn’t do anything to lighten her skin.
LISA FRANCE: Not at all. Tell me you don’t understand fashion, makeup and wigs or say, wigs. (crosstalk) And lighting because her whole look was about being platinum as she had asked people to show up to the concert in your shoes? Yes. The red the red carpet was a platinum carpet. So she had a platinum look and people said, oh, she must have lightened her skin. I’m like the woman who gave us black is king right into our skin. Like y’all are coming for the wrong one.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Yeah.
LISA FRANCE: The wrong one.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: And, you know, I thought when I saw it, I was like, oh, this may be if there is any difference. That’s because she wanted the picture to be perfect. (Right.) And maybe the lighting and editing or something. But I don’t think Beyonce would come out and intentionally lighten her skin.
LISA FRANCE: No, never would she.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: For an image, and equate that with beauty.
LISA FRANCE: She doesn’t need to! She’s a force of nature. And they made Miss Tina call people stupid. Her mom, Tina Knowles, called people stupid.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: We all just saw her on stage around the country.
Watch above via CNN’s First of All With Victor Blackwell.
