Ellen Degeneres insists she isn’t a racist following Usain Bolt tweet
Ellen DeGeneres came under fire after she posted a picture of her riding Usain Bolt, ‘the fastest man alive’.
“This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016,” she quipped.
This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) 15 August 2016
Her tweet was immediately picked up as potentially offensive by Twitter users.
@daibyday @TheEllenShow an apology won’t do. This is utterly fucking ridiculous. How dare you!?!?
— iyonah (@iyonah) 15 August 2016
@fourfivehours @TheEllenShow @usainbolt they were complimented on their strength. So i guess they weren’t racist. pic.twitter.com/sXgo85VSvW
— Fighting Jurist (@Br_mabe) 16 August 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) 15 August 2016
“How dare you!?” one woman asks.
However, the tweet was not universally considered offensive: Usain Bolt himself retweeted it.
A number of Ellen’s fans also leapt to her defence, arguing that he post it was just a compliment and not race-related.
@BryanIsTheKing @iyonah @daibyday @TheEllenShow people love creating stories. Ellen’s apparently now a racist. Ellen.
— Kellz (@ChippedKelly) 16 August 2016
@MikeAllen_47 Usain Bolt retweeted it so if he isn’t offended, why are you?
— Lindsey || 86 days (@HobbitLindsey) 16 August 2016
@TheEllenShow @usainbolt literally I’m black and don’t take offense to this she’s basically complimenting him on his speed and stamina
— R (@fourfivehours) 15 August 2016
DeGeneres, 58, quickly responded to the criticisms and said she isn’t racist.
“I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am,” she 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) 16 August 2016
She moved on quickly, posting a photo with wife Portia De Rossi on their eighth wedding anniversary with the caption: “Best thing I ever did.”
Best thing I ever did. #8years #HappyAnniversary pic.twitter.com/kb0oLj2RAS
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) 16 August 2016
Bolt won the men’s 100 metres gold medal this year, with a time of 9.81 seconds. This marks the first time an athlete has won the event three times at the Olympic Games.
