*Ellen DeGeneres Photoshopped herself onto the back of Usain Bolt in the now-iconic photo of him winning the 100M semifinal in Rio, and tweeted the pic Monday with the caption, “This is how I’m running errands from now on.”
This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016
Ellen instead ran right into accusations of racism, with some Twitter users saying it is racially insensitive of her to picture herself being carried around piggyback style by a black man.
Below are examples of the backlash:
@TheEllenShow so the first thing that pops in your head when looking at this pic is “oh let me jump onto his back like he’s a common mule”?
— Jon Snow-ratio (@Jhoratio) August 15, 2016
@TheEllenShow This is so gross. Fire whoever did this.
— dai for night (@daibyday) August 15, 2016
DeGeneres responded Tuesday, tweeting, “I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am.”
But for some, her apology fell on deaf ears.
….yet you found it appropriate to post a meme of you riding a Black dude like Ms. Daisy.
Have a seat. ☕ @TheEllenShow
— Angry Black Hoe-Mo (@angryblackhoemo) August 16, 2016
@LuiginaLopez @TheEllenShow of course she didn’t. Her intent was to make a joke but the context of the picture triggered something else.
— Mel Smith (@iamMelsmith) August 16, 2016
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