Ellen Degeneres has come under fire this week for tweeting an edited photo that many are rightfully calling, “racist.” After a meme of Usain Bolt’s 100-meter race at the Olympic’s went viral, the comedian sparked outrage for posting this image:
This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016
The tweet, which shows Ellen riding Usain Bolt like an animal, prompted hundreds of angry responses, many of which insisted the photo alluded to slave labor.
@fourfivehours @TheEllenShow @usainbolt they were complimented on their strength. So i guess they weren’t racist. pic.twitter.com/sXgo85VSvW
— Fighting Jurist (@Br_mabe) August 16, 2016
@TheEllenShow You thought it’d be funny to post a pic of yourself riding on the back of a Black man? Nope. Delete this racist garbage.
— Mike (@MikeAllen_47) August 15, 2016
Dear @TheEllenShow: Whatever intern thought this tweet was a good idea should be fired. Immediately. pic.twitter.com/qcVqSBJE5e
— Ⓐ #GrumpyCuntSec Ⓐ (@brazenqueer) August 16, 2016
Ellen, your whiteness is showing! #Rio2016 @TheEllenShow @usainbolt pic.twitter.com/88RF75YLDu
— Black Intifada (@BlackShiite) August 16, 2016
This, however, isn’t the first time Degeneres has been accused of being racist. Last October, the Ellen Show created a sketch parodying Nicki Minaj’s early life, where a young version of Minaj was shown with a dramatically enlarged butt. This not only sexualized a young black girl, but also received backlash on Twitter for body shaming.
And although Degeneres is known for her generosity toward young viral stars, she’s still faced criticism for often promoting white privilege and neglecting popular black culture.
The comedian has yet to apologize for her insensitive actions, but has since tweeted: “I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am.”
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