Ellen DeGeneres on Her Usain Bolt Meme: Racist ‘is the Furthest Thing from Who I Am’

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Ellen DeGeneres on Her Usain Bolt Meme: Racist ‘is the Furthest Thing from Who I Am’

Ellen DeGeneres has responded to accusations that a meme she Photoshopped of Jamaican runner Usain Bolt is racist. Ellen’s meme shows her riding on the Olympic runner’s back. Many saw this when they looked at the image.

Said Ellen in a later tweet: “I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am.”

This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016

Here are a few examples of what others have done with it:

this is literally the culmination of this man’s entire life and Usain is probably thinking about dinner reservations pic.twitter.com/shp9NBnYeF

— Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) August 15, 2016

Homie is fighting for his life and Bolt is posing for photos mid-race pic.twitter.com/69f6Hk3rTR

— Vann R. Newkirk II (@fivefifths) August 15, 2016

Finally someone made a meme to this!!😭😭 #editedforobviousreasons #UsainBolt You can look back&still be winner sheesh pic.twitter.com/KTgG23WqUs

— Erika Fernandez (@CurlsAndSports) August 15, 2016

Many took issue with Ellen’s version:

@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

@SonicGamingChan @TheEllenShow I find the image of a white woman riding on a black man’s back triggering. Some don’t, I do & that’s life

— Tony Sparks (@WarWizard) August 16, 2016

Ellen responded:

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

The post Ellen DeGeneres on Her Usain Bolt Meme: Racist ‘is the Furthest Thing from Who I Am’ appeared first on Towleroad.