Indiana State University (ISU) has condemned a viral TikTok video in which one of its students made racial comments aimed at Beyonce’s county music—inspired album.
Beyonce on March 29 released Cowboy Carte, a music album conceived as a journey through a reinvention of Americana and laying bare the overlooked contributions of Black pioneers to American musical and cultural history.
The music album has been topping charts and attracting mass sales.
However, an ISU student took issue with Beyonce's album, inspired by country music, and attacked her using her race.
"I'm sorry, if you're Black, you're not country," the woman said in the viral TikTok clip.
"I know you were raised in the country, or your grandparents were, but they was picking. They wasn't planting. Keep that in mind. They wasn't making money. They was getting sold for money."
The clip has since gone viral forcing the ISU president Deborah J. Curtis to issue a statement condemning the remarks.
"Upon learning that a racist video from an Indiana State University student was posted online, we immediately worked with the vice president for Student Affairs to identify the student, communicate directly with student leaders, and strategize how to prioritize student well-being and safety," the statement posted on Facebook, April 10, read.
"Racism, hate speech, and discrimination of any kind is deplorable and in direct contradiction of Indiana State's mission, vision, and values. The student's comments in the video in no way represent the ideals and goals of Indiana State University. We are appalled by the sentiments expressed in the video and condemn those comments in the strongest terms."