Ellen DeGeneres Called Racist Over Tweet About Usain Bolt
Olympic sensation and fastest man alive Usain Bolt has brought the Internet at large a lot of joy since he burst onto the scene a few years ago. Remember when he got taken out by a Segway? Good times, right? Anyway, the latest Internet-related Bolt story isn’t of the warm and fuzzy variety, nor does it involve him getting toppled by a transportation device.
Look at this tweet from popular daytime TV host Ellen DeGeneres:
This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016
Now, look at the responses:
@daibyday @TheEllenShow seriously, WTF?
— iyonah (@iyonah) August 15, 2016
@TheEllenShow honestly this is offensive.
— Jazz (@JazzleDazzler) August 15, 2016
@TheEllenShow @usainbolt So riding on his back like a mule, a horse as some form of property is fun to you…
Ok.
— 777-9311 (@MiQL) August 15, 2016
Full fights have been breaking out:
@BryanIsTheKing @TheEllenShow @usainbolt If I ignored US history & current climate of police lynching us, this “joke” would be hilarious.
— 777-9311 (@MiQL) August 16, 2016
@fourfivehours your opinion has nothing to do w/ other black people lol, you don’t represent the entire group
— lil bitty ♊️ (@BureenuhDuhh) August 16, 2016
@fourfivehours “You guys” lol I never said I was offended. I was letting you know your comment on being black was irrelevant
— lil bitty ♊️ (@BureenuhDuhh) August 16, 2016
A few things to consider before we move on:
1. Bolt retweeted the photo.
2. Right before tweeting the picture in question, DeGeneres tweeted a link to the trailer for the upcoming movie Hidden Figures, which focuses on the unsung black heroes of NASA.
3. Right after tweeting the picture in question, DeGeneres tweeted a link to an old video she and Bolt made together.
Taking all of that into account, it seems pretty clear she meant no offense to her friend or the black community, which is what she later said:
I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 16, 2016
It’s certainly not an apology, but the debate is still raging over whether or not it even should be.
[image via screengrab]
