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New Beyoncé Video – Photosensitive Warning

Last Updated:
warning sign

**Update - a warning has now been added to the beginning of the video. However, please be aware that the video still contains the photosensitive sequences outlined below.**

We would like to make those living with photosensitive epilepsy aware that there is a series of potentially serious triggering sequences contained within the new Beyoncé music video.  

Given the popularity of Beyoncé’s music, we know that she will have many fans within the epilepsy community and some of those are potentially living with photosensitive epilepsy.

The video contains flickering and flashing lyrics throughout which may be an issue for some people. However, the closing sequence of the video ( from 04:10 on the official YouTube video), featuring a saturated and rapidly flickering red and black sequence is likely to be particularly problematic and dangerous for a person living with photosensitive epilepsy.

There are tools available to content creators to establish whether their content is likely to trigger seizures  and it is extremely disappointing to see instances like this continuing to arise despite photosensitive epilepsy being arguably the most well-known type of epilepsy across the globe.

It is difficult to see why such sequences continue to be included in various forms of media and what value they actually add to a viewer's experience.  However, sequences like this pose a potentially serious risk to those living with photosensitive epilepsy or indeed, people who may not yet be aware that they have photosensitive epilepsy (until exposed to triggering content).

While there is a warning in the video description on the official YouTube video,  there are currently no on-screen warnings on the video itself.