Choreographer Accuses Beyonce of Plagiarism for ‘Countdown’ Video

Over the weekend, a short video was starting to gain popularity online: it purported to offer proof that Beyonce had stolen from another artist ideas for her latest video, “Countdown.” The other artist is now speaking out.

Her name is Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and she is from Belgium. In an interview cited by zimbio, she says she is convinced Beyonce and her team ripped her off, and she’d like at least an apology.

While the video in question is packed with references to Whitney Houston, Diana Ross and Audrey Hepburn, all of which are meant as tributes, there’s also a segment that’s been stolen from Keersmaeker, Keersmaeker says.

Though she’s upset at being ripped off like this, without being paid due credit, she doesn’t seem to be thinking taking matters further than this.

“I didn’t know anything about this. I’m not mad, but this is plagiarism. This is stealing. They took pieces from Achterland and Rosas danst Rosas,” she says of the footage she believes was taken and used for “Countdown.”

“It’s a bit rude, I must say... What’s rude about it is that they don’t even bother about hiding it. They seem to think they could do it because it’s a famous work,” Keersmaeker continues.

She then takes a direct jab at Beyonce, proving that, even though she says she’s not mad, she might be – more than she’d care to acknowledge.

“Am I honored? Look, I’ve seen local school kids doing this. That’s a lot more beautiful,” she says, kicking Beyonce and her team directly where it hurts the most.

Several media outlets have already contacted Beyonce’s camp for comment on the latest plagiarism accusations but, so far, only the video’s director has come to her defense.

“I brought Beyonce a number of references and we picked some out together. Most were German modern-dance references, believe it or not. But it really evolved,” Adria Petty says.

Below is the video that’s now being used as irrefutable “proof” that Beyonce ripped the Belgian choreographer.