Ellen DeGeneres Responds To Racism Accusations Over Photoshopped Usain Bolt Twitter Pic

'It is the furthest thing from who I am.'
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Ellen DeGeneres has defended a photo she tweeted of Usain Bolt, after she was accused of racism.

The US chat show host and actress shared a photoshopped snap of her riding on the Jamaican runner’s back after he won the Olympic 100 metres semifinals.

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

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016

The pic, which was shared with her 61.5million followers, was captioned: “This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016.”

But the tweet didn’t go down too well with some, who accused the ‘Finding Dory’ star of racism.

@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

@daibyday @TheEllenShow an apology won't do. This is utterly fucking ridiculous. How dare you!?!?

— iyonah (@iyonah) August 15, 2016

@TheEllenShow Yo, what the fuck? Who approved this bullshit?

— Tony Sparks (@WarWizard) August 15, 2016

@BryanIsTheKing @TheEllenShow @usainbolt If I ignored US history & current climate of police lynching us, this "joke" would be hilarious.

— 777-9311 (@MiQL) August 16, 2016

Others defended Ellen’s decision to share the pic...

@iyonah @daibyday @TheEllenShow
This is a joke on how fast he is, not how black he is.#RelaxFam

— ' (@VladimirHaitian) August 16, 2016

@TheEllenShow @usainbolt literally I'm black and don't take offense to this she's basically complimenting him on his speed and stamina

— R (@fourfivehours) August 15, 2016

@TheEllenShow @usainbolt Wow. You offended people grow up. It was a commentary on him being the fastest man in the world you clowns.

— Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) August 17, 2016

But Ellen later addressed the backlash in another tweet, saying: “I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am.”

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

Despite the accusations of racism from some quarters, Usain didn’t appear to be offended by the meme, which he reweeted to his four million followers.

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