Beyonce Knowles Denies Stealing Footage for 'Formation' Music Video
Music

Beyonce's representative reacts to plagiarism allegations over 'Formation' music video, insisting that they have purchased the footage and given credit where it's due.

AceShowbiz - The release of Beyonce Knowles' new song "Formation" was marred with plagiarism accusations. The R&B singer is accused of stealing footage from a documentary called "That B.E.A.T." and used it on her newly-released music video without consent.

"New Beyonce video used hella clips from the doc I produced and directed by @abteen ...but why?!?!" the documentary's producer Chris Black tweeted. "I guess it's flattering that people f*ck with the things you've created but also frustrating when they wanna use it like it's theirs."

"Why Melina gotta use clips from our doc?!?" Black referred to the video's director Melina Matsoukas. "Was the budget not big enough to spend a week in New Orleans and actually build with the people." He added, "The funny thing is that our doc is lowkey iconic so the audacity to rip and pass it off like we not gonna notice. You outta touch b!"

"At least credit the filmmakers that followed their passions and did the actual work. if you're an artist, always protect your work. They don't know what you had to sacrifice to create," Black continued while the documentary's director Abteen Bagheri wrote on his own Twitter, "I'm not mad. It's the sad reality of the music business. Doesn't affect my friends' and my work, but not cool."

In response, Beyonce's rep explained that they had secured the rights to use the footage. "The documentary footage was used with permission and licensed from the owner of the footage," the rep told Entertainment Weekly. "They were given proper compensation. The footage was provided to us by the filmmaker's production company. The filmmaker is listed in the credits for additional photography direction. We are thankful that they granted us permission."

However, those credits were missing in the YouTube version of the music video which has raked in over 6 million views and still counting. Besides released on YouTube, the video was uploaded on Tidal and VideoStatic which did credit Bagheri for "additional photography direction."

Matsoukas also gave shout-outs to Bagheri and the other director, Lily Keber, on Twitter, "Must give much love to the beautiful NOLA footage shot and directed by @abteen and @lkeber to make #FORMATION whole." Both the directors replied with gratitude as Bagheri replied, "Thanks for the credit @melinamatsoukas and @Beyonce." Meanwhile, Black still scoffed, "Lol, your 500k budget wasn't enough to make your video 'whole.' "

In an interview with The Fader, Chris Black did admit that he didn't own "That B.E.A.T." He said the documentary was commissioned by Nokia in partnership with Sundance.

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