Both Beyoncé and Rihanna have issued statements following the shocking death of George Floyd.

The black man, who was killed after a white Minneapolis police officer, knelt on his neck for over 8 minutes while three others stood-by, and a group of bystanders screamed them to stop.

During this 8 minutes, Floyd cried for help and repeated over and over that he could not breathe.

The killing led to protests and riots in Minneapolis, Louisville, Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Pheonix, Memphis, and Columbus.

Rihanna said in a lengthy statement: “For the last few days, the magnitude of devastation, anger, sadness I’ve felt has been overwhelming to say the least! Watching my people get murdered and lynched day after day pushed me to a heavy place in my heart! To the point of staying away from socials, just to avoid hearing the blood curdling agony in George Floyd’s voice again, begging over and over for his life!!! The look of enticement, the pure joy and climax on the face of this bigot, murderer, thug, pig, bum, Derek Chauvin, haunts me!! I can’t shake this! I can’t get over an ambulance pulling up to an arrest, a paramedic checking a pulse without removing the very thing that’s hindering it! Is this that fu*king normal??? If intentional MURDER is the fit consequence for “drugs” or “resisting arrest”….then what’s the fit consequence for MURDER???! #GeorgeFloyd #AhmaudArbery #BreonnaTaylor”

As for Beyoncé, she posted a video where she read a statement and asked people to sign several petitions to advance the cause.

One person had this reaction: “The queens are speaking tonight! Black women I love you, and I will not let you go unnoticed this time. Black Children, I love you, and I will not let you go unnoticed this time.”

Another person called out Nicki Minaj for being silent: “Good to see celebrities taking a standing. Yall notice Nicki Minaj always “A Black Woman” when it’s convenient but don’t EVER speak on BLACK ISSUES. I love that influencers and celebrities are using their platforms to spread awareness, unlike Travis Scott and Asap Rocky.”

This fan revealed: “For those that have been saying she needs to speak, she spoke so what y’all gonna do now. Beyoncé doesn’t just speak, she opens her purse. Be like Beyoncé. How come Beyoncé and Rihanna always speak on social injustices, but Nicki never does?”

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Will these statements change things?