American television host Ellen Lee DeGeneres received flak from Tweeteratis after she posted photoshopped image of herself riding Usain Bolt’s back with a post saying, “This is how I’m running errands from now on.” The original photo shows Bolt smiling as he sprints towards the gold medal in the 100m race at the Rio Olympics, making history by winning 100m gold for third consecutive time.
This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016
However, the meme did not go down well with many Twitter users who called the post 'offensive' and accused her of racism. While one of the users replied to DeGeneres’s tweet saying that the meme compares Bolt with a mule, horse or a piece of property, another trashed it calling it a 'racist garbage'. Some even dug deep into the American history to retrieve pictures that showed white people riding black people's backs.
@TheEllenShow @usainbolt So riding on his back like a mule, a horse as some form of property is fun to you...
— 777-9311 (@MiQL) August 15, 2016
Ok.
@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
@fourfivehours @TheEllenShow @usainbolt they were complimented on their strength. So i guess they weren't racist. pic.twitter.com/sXgo85VSvW
— Fighting Jurist (@Br_mabe) August 16, 2016
Meanwhile, some others defended DeGeneres’s tweet saying that she was complementing Bolt for his speed and stamina. Some even retorted that the talkshow host would not have been accused of racism if she would have posted a picture of herself riding a white sprinter's back.
@iyonah @daibyday @TheEllenShow What's wrong with it? She's saying he's fast. Nothing more. Nothing less
— Bryan Young (@BryanIsTheKing) August 16, 2016
@nunu_gohard @MikeAllen_47 if the fastest man was white, she would have photoshopped herself on him as well so it's not a race issue.
— Lindsey || 86 days (@HobbitLindsey) August 16, 2016
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
Amid the hoopla surrounding the meme, DeGeneres responded to the backlash with the following tweet.
While Tweeteratis are locking horns with each other, Bolt retweeted DeGeneres’s tweet in good spirits.
