The second is Sybrina Fulton, whose 17-year-old son Trayvon Martin was killed in Florida by a local vigilante George Zimmerman in a case that sparked national outrage in 2012...

The second is Sybrina Fulton, whose 17-year-old son Trayvon Martin was killed in Florida by a local vigilante George Zimmerman in a case that sparked national outrage in 2012.

I have huge personal sympathy for both women and there is no doubt that African-Americans have been treated appallingly by certain rogue elements within the country’s police forces.

But I felt very uneasy watching these women being used in this way to sell an album. It smacks of shameless exploitation.

My mind went back to my CNN interview with Beyoncé and the moment when we discussed her live performance at President Barack Obama’s first inauguration ball in 2008.

‘Did you experience racism as you grew up?’ I asked.

A bit, but I feel like with my career I’ve now broken barriers. I don’t think people think about my race. I think they look at me as an entertainer and a musician and I’m very happy about that because that’s how I look at people. It’s not about color and race, and I’m happy that’s changing.’

‘At the time of the inauguration,’ I said, ‘the most powerful man in the world was African-American, Oprah was the biggest TV star, you were the biggest singing star and Tiger Woods was No1 golfer. That would have been unthinkable 30 years ago.’

‘Exactly,’ she replied. 

‘The sea change came through personal achievement as much as anything else.’

‘Absolutely. I’m proud of that and I’m just praying that we continue to grow and people continue to see the right things in people.’

That interview took place five years ago.

Beyoncé then was unrecognisable from the militant activist we see now. Then, she was at pains to be seen as an entertainer and musician and not as a black woman who sings.

Now, it seems to be the complete opposite.

The new Beyoncé wants to be seen as a black woman political activist first and foremost, entertainer and musician second.

I still think she’s a wonderful singer and performer, and some of the music on Lemonade is fantastic.

But I have to be honest, I preferred the old Beyoncé.

The less inflammatory, agitating one.

The one who didn’t use grieving mothers to shift records and further fill her already massively enriched purse.

The one who didn’t play the race card so deliberately and to my mind, unnecessarily.

The one who wanted to be judged on her stupendous talent not her skin color, and wanted us all to do the same