Usain Bolt is fast. Very fast. So fast that Ellen DeGeneres tweeted a meme about how she wished she could run her errands, you know, faster.
The comedian and talk show host posted a Photoshopped image of herself piggybacking on the now famous image of a smiling Usain Bolt as he sprints towards the finish line. She captioned the photo, “This is how I’m running errands from now on.”
This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016
And the Internet was not pleased. DeGeneres received backlash from people claiming the image inferred a racist message.
The Ellen picture is culturally insensitive & could be offensive. I find it offensive.
— Cliftrigger, III (@seabethree) August 16, 2016
Racist or not Ellen's joke was in poor taste . I don't look at it as cute or funny .. Too much in our history to think this is cute / funny.
— Jeannie (JEH-nee)❣ (@JenLaPrincesse) August 16, 2016
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While others felt that calling the image racist was reaching.
@iyonah @daibyday @TheEllenShow What's wrong with it? She's saying he's fast. Nothing more. Nothing less
— Bryan Young (@BryanIsTheKing) August 16, 2016
@BryanIsTheKing @iyonah @daibyday @TheEllenShow dis is actually a compliment.Pple nid to chill with dis race card before it becomes a cliche
— Mbali (@Dineo73432678) August 17, 2016
DeGeneres responded to the backlash by tweeting that she is aware of the racism that exists in our country, and that she is not a racist.
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
While many are upset that DeGeneres offered no apology, Usain Bolt (the man the meme is about) doesn’t seem offended. In fact, the Jamaican sprinter retweeted DeGeneres’ meme.