Former Fox News pundit and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a potential 2016 GOP presidential candidate, weighed in on the king and queen of American music in his new book, calling Jay Z a “pimp” who exploits wife Beyonce’s sexuality.
U.S. News and World Report published several quotes Thursday from Mr. Huckabee’s new book “God, Guns, Grits and Gravy,” set for release on Jan 20, including a passage on Mr. Huckabee’s thoughts on the hip-hop couple’s performance of “Drunk in Love” at the 2014 Grammy Awards.
He compared the performance to watching “foreplay.”
“My reaction: Why? Beyonce is incredibly talented — gifted, in fact. She has an exceptional set of pipes and can actually sing. She is a terrific dancer — without the explicit moves best left for the privacy of her bedroom. Jay Z is a very shrewd businessman, but I wonder: Does it occur to him that he is arguable crossing the line from husband to pimp by exploiting his wife as a sex object?”
The comment sparked social media outrage among Beyonce fans and feminist bloggers.
Jezebel’s Rebecca Rose criticized Mr. Huckabee’s comment in a post Thursday, saying Beyonce’s career decisions are not dictated by her husband.
“Jay Z is ’arguably’ a pimp because his wife is empowered enough to embrace her sexuality. OK. Because if she wasn’t married to Jay Z she’d have to follow her real career dreams and become a knitting instructor at Boise Community College. Sure.”
Mr. Huckabee is not the only conservative political pundit who has criticized Queen Bey.
Earlier this year Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly made several inflammatory remarks on Beyonce’s steamy “Partition” music video, accusing the songstress of being a bad influence on young girls.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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