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Brit Awards 2019: Beyonce and Jay-Z 'bow down' to Meghan Markle | Brit Awards 2019: Beyonce and Jay-Z 'bow down' to Meghan Markle |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Beyonce and Jay-Z posed in front of a portrait of the Duchess of Sussex wearing a crown as they accepted the Brit for best international group. | Beyonce and Jay-Z posed in front of a portrait of the Duchess of Sussex wearing a crown as they accepted the Brit for best international group. |
Writing on Instagram, Beyonce said: "In honour of Black History Month, we bow down to one of our Melanated Monas." | Writing on Instagram, Beyonce said: "In honour of Black History Month, we bow down to one of our Melanated Monas." |
That's a reference to their video for Ape**** in which they stood in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris. | That's a reference to their video for Ape**** in which they stood in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris. |
But for their Brits acceptance, the couple restaged that video next to a portrait of Meghan Markle. | But for their Brits acceptance, the couple restaged that video next to a portrait of Meghan Markle. |
Beyonce added: "Congrats on your pregnancy! We wish you so much joy." | Beyonce added: "Congrats on your pregnancy! We wish you so much joy." |
The Guardian newspaper's deputy music editor Laura Snapes said their decision to accept the award in front of a portrait of Meghan was a "wow" moment. | The Guardian newspaper's deputy music editor Laura Snapes said their decision to accept the award in front of a portrait of Meghan was a "wow" moment. |
"Very classy, pointed support of a black woman being treated repulsively by the UK tabloids," she wrote on Twitter. | "Very classy, pointed support of a black woman being treated repulsively by the UK tabloids," she wrote on Twitter. |
Other people also suggested Beyonce and Jay-Z's video was a message to the media and a statement of support for Meghan. | Other people also suggested Beyonce and Jay-Z's video was a message to the media and a statement of support for Meghan. |
'They didn't ask to use it, they just did' | |
The artist who painted the picture, Tim O'Brien, told Radio 1 Newsbeat that Meghan is "changing the face of England in a very direct way" and she's a symbol that "white supremacy is over around the globe". | |
But he tells us that he found out Beyonce and Jay Z had used his illustration of Meghan at the same time as everyone else. | |
"I was not contacted. I learned about it on social media. It's been an interesting 24 hours," the Brooklyn-based illustrator says. | |
The illustration was originally commissioned in 2018 for a magazine called The Key, published by Meghan Markle's old college sorority. | |
And Tim says he's "not sure" if he'll be asking the Brit award-winning couple for any money for their use of his image. | |
"My initial reaction was that I didn't see any benefit from what they did," he says. | |
"But I've been selling prints of it on my website for a while now, and those spiked yesterday. So overall I've fared well." | |
He adds that the original is still on sale, if Beyonce and Jay Z are in the market for something new to hang over one of their fireplaces. | |
The Duchess, who married Prince Harry last year, has been the subject of many headlines this year. | The Duchess, who married Prince Harry last year, has been the subject of many headlines this year. |
Some people have accused parts of the media of being negative about Meghan - who is around seven months pregnant. | Some people have accused parts of the media of being negative about Meghan - who is around seven months pregnant. |
Accepting the award, Beyonce thanked the Brits saying they've always been "very supportive". | Accepting the award, Beyonce thanked the Brits saying they've always been "very supportive". |
"Everything is love, Thank you." | "Everything is love, Thank you." |
Jay-Z then replies "You're welcome" before the couple turn around to face the painting of Meghan. | Jay-Z then replies "You're welcome" before the couple turn around to face the painting of Meghan. |
The portrait of the Duchess featured in the video was taken from the alumni magazine cover of the US sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. | The portrait of the Duchess featured in the video was taken from the alumni magazine cover of the US sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. |
She was a member between 2001 and 2003 when she attended the Northwestern University. | She was a member between 2001 and 2003 when she attended the Northwestern University. |
Artist and illustrator Tim O'Brien, who created the portrait, has previously created a painting of Beyonce in the style of Queen Elizabeth I. | Artist and illustrator Tim O'Brien, who created the portrait, has previously created a painting of Beyonce in the style of Queen Elizabeth I. |
He tweeted about seeing his portrait of the Duchess at the Brits and congratulated the Carters on their win. | He tweeted about seeing his portrait of the Duchess at the Brits and congratulated the Carters on their win. |
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. |
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. |