Not everyone is having a laugh over Ellen DeGeneres Twitter photo showing the 58-year-old comedian piggybacking a ride on Usain Bolt’s back.
The original photo of Bolt smiling at a camera will he wins the men’s 100 m race at the Rio Olympics has gone viral. The pic taken by Cameron Spencer for Getty Images went nuts on social media.
DeGeneres’ tweet includes 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
Twitter exploded with anger, people accused DeGeneres of racism, white privilege and ignorance.
@daibyday @TheEllenShow seriously, WTF?
— iyonah (@iyonah) August 15, 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
@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
Some people defended DeGeneres, telling Twitter to calm its farm:
@MikeAllen_47 Usain Bolt retweeted it so if he isn’t offended, why are you?
— Lindsey || 87 days (@HobbitLindsey) August 16, 2016
@MikeAllen_47 @TheEllenShow She doesn’t have to delete a thing, Now a piggy back ride is racist? Just stop it! #keepthetweetellen
— Mrs. Corie D. (@mrscorie) August 16, 2016
The comedian responded to the backlash saying:
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
