When Beyoncé released the music video for her hit song “Formation” last February and later gave a politically-charged performance of at the Super Bowl, protests from people who felt she was attacking police officers by symbolizing federal neglect of black communities followed.
But police officer Deuntay Diggs might be one of Queen Bey’s biggest fans.
Footage of Officer Diggs enthusiastically recreating the exact choreography to “Formation” at a pep rally at North Stafford High School in Virginia last week has gone viral.
Diggs, who says he is the first openly gay deputy to serve at the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office on his personal site, told Buzzfeed that his decision to perform “Formation” came as a result of both his desire to let students know that they should feel free to express themselves and succeed and also to change the conversation surrounding police work.
“The reason I’m doing this is to show kids that they can make it, that they can survive, that they can be successful,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate, at this time when people look negatively upon law enforcement, that I’m able to change that narrative and open up some conversations and engage with people.”
Diggs actually learned the choreography two months ago for lip-syncing contest to benefit children, citing that he’s a “huge Beyoncé fan,” but brought it out again for the pep rally last week.
Watch him perform “Formation” below.
@NSHSWolverines @nshs_2017 #PepRally #SENIORS2017 pic.twitter.com/0xkFACUMOA
— Lino Romo Reyes (@imxlino) October 14, 2016