The appearance of Lezley McSpadden in Beyonce’s “Lemonade” visual was probably one of the most emotional and heartbreaking points of the film. McSpadden, the mother of Mike Brown who was fatally gunned down by a Ferguson police officer in 2014, appeared in Beyonce’s “Forward” video. The feature also showcased the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner.
During the touching few seconds that she was on screen, McSpadden couldn’t help but shed tears while remembering her son.
“I tried to hold it together, but anytime I’m talking about my son – looking at a picture – I just think about all that’s gone and how he had so much ahead of him,” McSpadden told Sirius/XM in an interview. “So, I appreciate [Beyonce] for being bold enough to confront things and be sensitive at the same time.”
Lezley McSpadden has penned a memoir titled Tell The Truth and Shame The Devil. In her interview she also says that she appreciates how Beyonce was sensitive to her story, while still making sure that all of the mothers appeared regal, despite their circumstances.
“Months [after meeting Beyoncé] I got a call from her and her publicist and she asked me [to be in “Lemonade”] and I cried,” McSpadden said about meeting the singer and her offer to participate. “You know, me?! Out of all the people? You thought about me? I felt special. She had also did some things for my son’s foundation so at that point I said, ‘Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.’ I got there and they wanted to make me look regal. That’s what she called it. She’s just a sweet person and she’s really down to earth. She treated us well and she made sure we were comfortable.”
