Beyonce at the centre of a race storm after Super Bowl

Beyonce has found herself at the centre of a race row after her set at the Super Bowl yesterday.

The chart-topping star, who joined the likes of Coldplay and Bruno Mars for the halftime show, performed her new single Formation with backing dancers dressed like activists the Black Panthers, while also giving a nod to Malcolm X.

Some viewers were less than impressed with her making such a political statement, after also dropping her controversial video for the song.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani branded it "ridiculous" and "anti-police" after the set at the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

According to The Times newspaper, he said: "This is football, not Hollywood, and I thought it was really outrageous that she used it as a platform to attack police officers who are the people who protect her and protect us, and keep us alive."

One Twitter user blasted: "What is the NFL thinking when they permit Beyonce to sing some race baiting rant at Super Bowl 50?"

A woman also wrote on Beyoncé's Facebook page: "As the wife of a police officer, I am offended by this entire video. Rise above and stay above the strife. For a girl who grew up in a privileged, wealthy family, she has no business pandering to those who didn't."

Meanwhile, others thought the performance for the Black Lives Matter Movement was incredible after the 34-year-old star was previously accused of shunning her black heritage.

One wrote on Twitter: "Beyoncé just gave America a Black history lesson this week. Black panthers, Hurricane Katrina, police brutality, Afro beauty…come on B!"

Another posted: "Beyoncé's dancers paying homage to the Black Panthers at the Superbowl wins Black History Month. # SB50."

Her new song is thought to be a rallying cry for the movement and Bey's mum Tina Knowles also shared pics of her with the dancers giving the black power salute.

Beyonce's politically-charged music video features graffiti reading 'stop shooting us' with white police lining up against a black youngster.

Other scenes show Bey in a flooded New Orleans, after George Bush was accused of 'not caring about black people' following Hurricane Katrina as he failed to get relief aid to people quick enough.

Lyrics include: "You might just be a black Bill Gates in the making, cause I slay . I might just be a black Bill Gates in the making, cause I slay."

Formation is Bey's first since her Beyoncé: Platinum Edition was released in November 2014.