Many celebrities have found themselves on the wrong side of the Twitterverse in the past over something they tweeted and on Monday, Ellen DeGeneres became the latest star embroiled in Twitter’s wrath.
On Aug. 15, the talk show host posted what she thought was an innocent and funny tweet about how to quickly get her errands done.
“This is how I’m running errands from now on,” she tweeted with a Photoshopped picture of her riding on the back of Olympic gold medal sprinter Usain Bolt.
This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016
That tweet was followed up with another of Bolt’s appearance on her show.
However, some social media users only focused on the initial tweet and weren’t laughing. They called Ellen’s use of the fastest man in the world’s image “offensive” and even branded her as a “racist.”
@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
@TheEllenShow honestly this is offensive.
— Jazz (@JazzleDazzler) August 15, 2016
@daibyday @TheEllenShow an apology won't do. This is utterly fucking ridiculous. How dare you!?!?
— iyonah (@iyonah) August 15, 2016
imagine a white-man Photoshop himself riding Elaine Thompson
"@TheEllenShow how I’m running errands from now on. pic.twitter.com/jZMGd48hgk"
— Life of Starry (@StarryToronto) August 16, 2016
While some were crying foul, others Twitter users came to Ellen’s defense.
If Usain was white, y'all wouldn't care. We all know Ellen isn't racist & didn't mean any harm by that. Stop it ????
— Zizzy (@xtraordinairee_) August 16, 2016
Y'all know Damn well Ellen ain't racist but y'all gon act like she is because it's social media and y'all annoying.
— Problematic Bear (@SeanTheTerrible) August 16, 2016
I am absolutely baffled by the people currently calling Ellen DeGeneres racist because she, more or less, called an Olympic sprinter fast.
— Jeffhaerys Targaryen (@jekelish) August 16, 2016
On Tuesday, DeGeneres took to Twitter again to clear the air.
"I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am," she tweeted.
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
What was missing in all this though is that many didn’t even realize that Usian Bolt himself didn’t see anything wrong with the Ellen’s meme, in fact he must have liked it since retweeted it.
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