Bette Midler apologizes for sharing John Lennon and Yoko Ono quote calling women the 'N word of the world'
An impassioned tweet she sent in support of women in the wake of Brett Kavanaugh‘s confirmation hearings has backfired on Bette Midler.
In the tweet, the singer and actress paraphrased a controversial song title from John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1972 album, Some Time in New York City, reflecting the struggle women face. But in doing so, she was accused of dismissing people of color, primarily black women.
Twitter users were quick to express their disgust with the “disappointing” tweet, with many Midler fans urging the 72-year-old star to delete it, which she did. Many of the responses explained how her message “erased” the discrimination and oppression experienced by women of color. Some critics pointed out the strong show of support — 52 percent — President Trump received from white women in the 2016 election.
Midler responded to the uproar by tweeting a second statement noting that she had “offended many” with her tweet but insisting that “it rings true today, whether you like it or not.” She added that it was “not about race,” an addendum many followers viewed as tone-deaf.
Midler eventually deleted both messages following further backlash.
Holy cow I didn’t see the second tweet she posted before she deleted both and apologized. Awful…just awful.
SMH pic.twitter.com/EegnlO20gq
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) October 5, 2018
Midler has since apologized, acknowledging that her tweets were “enraging to black women, who doubly suffer.” She explained that her anger over news tied to the “too brief” Kavanaugh FBI investigation over sexual assault allegations promoted the hasty message.
The too brief investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh infuriated me. Angrily I tweeted w/o thinking my choice of words would be enraging to black women who doubly suffer, both by being women and by being black. I am an ally and stand with you; always have. And I apologize.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) October 5, 2018
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Social media reacts to Lindsey Graham’s ‘I’m a single white male’ and ‘I will not shut up’ comments
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