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News

Was Ellen's tweet really racist?

194 replies

Propertyquandry · 17/08/2016 00:04

here

I'm really surprised at the outrage over this. I cannot even see how it can be seen as casual racism. He's just been declared, once again, as the fastest man on the planet. Everybody loves him and she makes a joke basically alluding to the fact that he'd get her where she wants to go quicker than anything else. He even retweeted it, and not at all in a negative way. All the talk of riding him like a mule. It's a mock up of him giving her a piggy back ffs! It seems if he was white or she was black it would be ok.

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Thefitfatty · 17/08/2016 07:40

I don't think she meant it as racist AT ALL.

That being said, it's poorly timed given the issues in the US at the moment. I mean Milwaukee is rioting, there is huge racial tension.

AND

The vast majority of Americans have no clue who Usain Bolt is, or that he's the fastest man in the world. They're seeing Ellen (a white woman) on the back of a black man.

She didn't mean it as racist, but it wasn't very well thought out. :/

SoupDragon · 17/08/2016 07:50

I think it makes the point that some people think Bolt's athletic achievements are secondary to the colour of his skin.

My first thoughts on hearing/seeing him are of his unbelievable skill and his personality.

As a white person I can translate that into some kind of understanding that when a black person tells me something is racist I should STFU at least

I agree but in this case, black people are also saying it isn't racist.

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 17/08/2016 07:54

Of course it's not racist. People just love any excuse to take offence (see the thread running about a BBC commentator saying Jason Kenny looked like he was wondering 'what's for tea' when talking to Laura Trott).

SoupDragon · 17/08/2016 07:58

I find it odd that you can't make a joke about someone based on them being awesome because they happen to be black.

PikachuSayBoo · 17/08/2016 07:58

Well Bolt retweeted it so I guess he doesn't find it offensive!

SoupDragon · 17/08/2016 07:59

that reads like they're awesome because they are black... That's not what I meant!

Lweji · 17/08/2016 08:03

Thefitfatty
Exactly that.

She didn't meant it to be racist or demeaning, but I do think it was ill advised.

SoupDragon · 17/08/2016 08:07

The vast majority of Americans have no clue who Usain Bolt is

Really?

MorrisZapp · 17/08/2016 08:10

There was a joke on twitter the other day about putting a saddle on Michael Phelps and riding him home from a desert island.

It made me laugh. This is exactly the same joke, but with a picture.

Lweji · 17/08/2016 08:10

Not the vast majority but probably many, and vice versa with Ellen.

Thefitfatty · 17/08/2016 08:14

Really?

Really. Not only does this Olympics have the lowest viewership in recent history, but he's a British athlete. Honestly, if I didn't talk on Mumsnet and read UK papers I wouldn't know who he is.
And how many of Ellen's viewers are really watching the Olympics? Or, if they are, are interested in how the Brits are doing?

Queenbean · 17/08/2016 08:16

Usain Bolt isn't British! He's Jamaican!!

Lweji · 17/08/2016 08:19

I think that demonstrates most people's knowledge about Bolt.
Even in the US.

TheDowagerCuntess · 17/08/2016 08:19

British?!

TheDowagerCuntess · 17/08/2016 08:19

He runs in yellow!

SoupDragon · 17/08/2016 08:20

if I didn't talk on Mumsnet and read UK papers I wouldn't know who he is.

I guess Americans aren't interested as he's slaughtered the US athletes and their best hope was a drugs cheat

Mjingaxx · 17/08/2016 08:23

I don't know who Ellen is, so I have no presumption of whether she was/is intentionally racist

It strikes me though, that if it was meant inoccently because he is the fastest man on earth, rather than a fast Black man; why did she say 'ride him like a donkey'?

Donkeys are not reknowned for being fast. They are used for manual labour.

Whoevere said calling this racist diminishes real racism is WRONG. Covert racism is often the hardest to deal with

Dontyoulovecalpol · 17/08/2016 08:24

Lol at usain being British. Being back the commonwealth! The queen is your mother Usain!

Thefitfatty · 17/08/2016 08:24

There you go! LOL!!!! I think I represent the sports knowledge of quite a few Americans!

SoupDragon · 17/08/2016 08:26

why did she say 'ride him like a donkey'?

I don't think she did say that.

SoupDragon · 17/08/2016 08:28

Ellen posted the picture with the comment "this is how I am running errands from now on"

Other people claimed she was riding him like a donkey/mule.

Mjingaxx · 17/08/2016 08:30

My apologies soup...I think I misunderstood the OP

Is it that she is being criticised for riding him like a mule? She didn't make that reference herself?

Mjingaxx · 17/08/2016 08:31

X-post

SoupDragon · 17/08/2016 08:32

Yes. Her caption to the photo was just about errands. With the joke being it would get them done quickly. That's it.

wornoutboots · 17/08/2016 08:37

I don't see anything to do with skin colour here, I see it as a funny tribute to how very impressively fast he is.

maybe the racists are the ones who see this as a race issue?

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