Earlier this week, popular television host, comedian, actress, writer and producer Ellen DeGeneres found herself at the center of a controversy after sharing an insensitive meme featuring herself on the back of Olympic sprinter Usain St. Leo Bolt on social media.
Today for example: Ellen DeGeneres tweeting that offensive photoshopped picture and Usain Bolt even RT’d it because he don’t know any better
— Addy (@LethalHuxtable) August 16, 2016
The image was in poor taste but it wasn’t racist in my estimation. At least not deliberately. #EllenDeGeneres https://t.co/Nbrbvu3ID5
— Dave Jordan (@DJNYC1) August 16, 2016
In the meme, which went viral on Monday, Aug. 15, DeGeneres, 58, can be seen smiling over Bolt’s shoulder as his opponents are left in the dust. While some believe DeGeneres’ move showed her White privilege, others defended her move to tweet a Photoshopped version of the original image from her account that showed her piggybacking on Bolt’s back, with the caption, “This is how I’m running errands from now on.”
Ellen Degeneres is not racist. Y’all gotta chill.
— AllLivesMatterisB.S. (@PJ4MJJ) August 16, 2016
Although DeGeneres didn’t initially realize the negative connotations of showing a White woman riding the back of a Black man as a form of transportation, she soon backtracked, issuing a necessary response to all the controversy. “I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am,” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Jamaican sprinter has yet to address the meme. We imagine he’s out celebrating his win during Sunday’s 100m final at 9.81 seconds, becoming the first person to claim the gold medal in the event for the third consecutive time.
What are your thoughts on DeGeneres’ response to accusations she is racist? Sound off in the comment section below.
