“Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo was among those leading the charge against A&E and its now-abandoned plan to air the documentary series “Generation KKK.” Days later, she was accused of racial insensitivity for using black emojis on Twitter.
It all started when A&E initially announced it’s original plan to change the show’s title. The actress thanked the network via Twitter for “caring enough to make changes.” She added black clapping and thumbs-up emojis to emphasize her point.
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812412675468599296
According to the blog Heat Street, a number of Twitter users took offense to the chosen hue of her emojis. One user, who has since set her account private, wrote: “It’s not fair to see a privileged white woman use [people of color] emojis just because you can.”
“It comes off as really obnoxious,” she added.
The actress replied:
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812425470528495616
When that tweet sparked further accusations of racism, Pompeo responded: It’s “sad to see racism is still alive and well on all sides.”
Her reference to “all sides” generated even more anger over her suggestion that she is a victim of reverse-racism. One person wrote: “reverse racism isn’t real. White people don’t experience racism.”
To which Pompeo replied:
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812444011608715264
Another tweeted: “SHUT UP, WHITE LADY.” She responded by pointing out that her husband Chris Ivery is black and she’s the mother to two biracial daughters.
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812450597840437248
But the accusations of racism continued, and eventually Pompeo just gave up trying to defend herself.
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812446668629032960
Fair or foul?
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(Photo Source: PR Photos)
