Hey there, friends. Let's talk about something that's been making waves on social media. It seems like we might have another Roseanne Barr situation on our hands, but this time with the iconic Bette Midler. On Thursday, October 4, the legendary star took to Twitter with a tweet that stirred up quite a bit of controversy among her followers. So, what exactly happened, and why is everyone so worked up about it?
What Did Bette Midler Say?
Alright, let's dive into the specifics. Bette Midler posted a tweet that some folks found offensive. In the now-deleted message, she wrote, "Women, are the n-word of the world. Raped, beaten, enslaved, married off, worked like dumb animals; denied education and inheritance; enduring the pain and danger of childbirth and life IN SILENCE for THOUSANDS of years[.] They are the most disrespected creatures on earth." This tweet quickly gained traction, racking up 14,000 favorites and 8,000 comments before it was removed from the platform, as reported by USA Today. It’s clear that her words struck a nerve with many people.
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Bette's Defense: A Reference to the Past
After the backlash, Bette tried to explain herself. In another now-deleted tweet, she defended her words by pointing out that her statement came from a John Lennon and Yoko Ono song from the '70s. "I gather I have offended many by my last tweet," she wrote. "‘Women are the…etc’ is a quote from Yoko Ono from 1972, which I never forgot. It rang true then, and it rings true today, whether you like it or not. This is not about race, this is about the status of women; THEIR HISTORY." Clearly, she wasn't intending to offend, but her words still hit a raw nerve with many people.
How Her Followers Reacted
Unfortunately, her explanation didn't sit well with everyone. One user chimed in, saying, "Sighs.. .its so disappointing to see you use that quote. Women are highly disrespected – but don’t displace the atrocities that were done to black people by using that quote." Another follower added, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Please stop. I am 100% a feminist but this is quite is awful. It erases the struggles of black women in particular. We HAVE to do better than this or we uphold the very systems of oppression that we are railing against." It's clear that her words, even if well-intentioned, had unintended consequences.
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.
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A Sincere Apology
In the end, Bette Midler took responsibility for her actions. "The too brief investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh infuriated me," she wrote. "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." It's always good to see public figures take accountability for their actions, and we hope her fans can find it in their hearts to forgive her.
