Beyoncé and Jay-Z accepted a Brit Award in front of a regal Meghan Markle portrait
Beyoncé and Jay-Z garnered a win for International Group at the 2019 Brit Awards on February 20th—and slipped in an iconic nod to Meghan Markle in their taped appearance. In their acceptance speech, the Carters recalled the music video for their hit “Apes**t” filmed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. But as the camera pans out to the dynamic duo, a regal customized portrait of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, hangs on a white wall in place of where the Mona Lisa sits in the video.
Watch the iconic acceptance speech below.
Well played @Beyonce & @S_C_ 😂
Watch The #BRITs 2019 live here: https://t.co/qj4KiENtGs pic.twitter.com/rGnmq0RUlr
— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) February 20, 2019
In the clip, Beyoncé says, “Thank you so much to the Brit Awards for this incredible honor. You guys have always been so supportive. Everything is love. Thank you.”
Following the speech, fans took to Twitter to point out that the duo’s subtle shout-out was likely a nod to media treatment of Markle from the British press. In November 2016, prior to their May 2018 nuptials, Prince Harry released a statement through Kensington Palace that condemned the “wave of abuse” toward Markle rooted in “racial undertones” and “outright sexism.”
Twitter users applauded the move, with one writing, “Wow at Beyoncé and Jay-Z not only making an acceptance video, but doing so in front of a portrait of Meghan Markle. Very classy, pointed support of a black woman being treated repulsively by the UK tabloids.”
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1098327152620175360
Beyonce and Jay-Z just killed it with this Meghan Markle portrait during their #BRITS2019 acceptance speech OMG 😭😭😭. High key FU to the racist British press. ❤️ them. pic.twitter.com/g8OV9mRreU
— Francine Belle (@Francine_Belle) February 20, 2019
As if this wasn’t all enough, Queen Bey took to Instagram shortly after to congratulate Markle on her pregnancy. She wrote, “In honor of Black History Month, we bow down to one of our Melanated Monas. Congrats on your pregnancy! We wish you so much joy.”
Things the Carters did: THAT.
