But for some celebs, their messages aren’t as well received as they likely hoped. Take, for example, Ellen DeGeneres’ now-deleted tweet about racial injustice and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. She later reposted an edited message — but not before fans tore into her for seemingly being hypocritical and too vague in her stance against the injustices that black people face in America.
Per Insider, screenshots of the now-deleted tweet show that it was posted on May 30, 2020 and read, “Like so many of you, I am angry and I am sad. People of color in this country have faced injustice for far too long. For things to change, things must change.” Although DeGeneres likely meant well with her words, people on social media immediately took issue with the tweet’s wording, mostly noting that there were no specific actions attached to the message, making it seem somewhat performative.
Although Ellen DeGeneres likely meant to show solidarity with the protestors taking to the streets in late May and early June 2020, people on social media called her out for her message for a number of reasons, per Insider. Firstly, people were upset that she said “people of color,” instead of just saying black people.
Since the protests taking place are in the name of getting justice for George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes, and eradicating police brutality and injustice against the black community specifically, many people thought DeGeneres should be more specific.
One person tweeted, “Not people of color. George Floyd was black. Why are being so cautious? Serious?” Another added, “1) it’s black people 2) it’s not love if you just mean “sweetly imploring oppressed people to stop damaging property 3) donate more money. you’re mates with war criminals,” referencing her friendship with former President George W. Bush.
Other people thought that Ellen DeGeneres tweet about injustice was a performative and empty gesture. They noted that she often gives away tons of money on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, but didn’t even mention whether or not she had donated to organizations that she was reportedly showing solidarity with.
“i still find it funny how Ellen Degeneres, a woman who is famous for boastfully signing life-size checks to random people on her show, can’t even post a screenshot on the internet of her donating money in support of Black lives,” one person noted. And that was just one of many tweets taking issue with her message.
In response to the backlash, DeGeneres quietly deleted the tweet and posted again, this time with more specificity. She wrote on May 31, 2020, “I support the protestors who are exercising their rights and standing up against the horrible injustices that Black people in America face everyday.” In a second tweet, she noted that she was donating to Black Lives Matter, the American Civil Liberties Union, the George Floyd Memorial Fund, and the NAACP. “I hope you will join me if you are able,” she added, along with #BlackLivesMatter.
In addition to deleting her original tweet about injustice and posting a more specific one addressing her donations, Ellen DeGeneres made a video that she shared on her show. She also put the clip on Twitter on June 4, 2020 with the title, “The problem with saying nothing.”
“I stand with the protestors who are exercising their rights and I want to be an ally fighting for change,” DeGeneres said. “As a white person, I don’t always know what to say. I think right now white people have to just sit in our discomfort and we have to admit there’s a lot we don’t know about black people’s lives and about a black person’s experience. There is horrible injustice towards black people that has been ignored for far too long.”
DeGeneres went on, “I like to think that I’m doing my best, but I think it’s time that we have to look at ourselves and we have to say we have not done enough. I want to learn how to be a better person, how to do better. I was the dancing lady for a little while and now I want to help educate my audience. I want to educate myself.”
Fans on social media seem to have responded better to her revised message about Black Lives Matter and being a better ally. In these tumultuous times, it seems DeGeneres is at least trying her very best to listen and learn.