Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is facing backlash after posting a photo many found to be representative of typical traveling colonizer behavior.
DeGeneres just took a week to enjoy East Africa to promote her wildlife foundation's work. Traveling through countries like Kenya and Rwanda, she shared selfies with giraffes and gorillas.
“I’ve waited my whole life to make this trip,” she captioned one photo.
Giraffes! #giraffemanor
#discoverthesafaricollection
pic.twitter.com/5mzVASvPex— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) May 26, 2018
I’ve waited my whole life to make this trip. pic.twitter.com/J2GNciu9Oy
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) May 31, 2018
Everything was fine and dandy until she posted a photo that native Africans, as well as fellow children of the diaspora, were not feeling.
Thank you to all of the amazing people I met on my trip, who helped make it so special. pic.twitter.com/w4sQop7yfR
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) June 4, 2018
DeGeneres can be seen surrounded by young children in the rural area of an unidentified country.
"Thank you to all of the amazing people I met on my trip, who helped make it so special," she wrote.
Many people felt her choice to take a picture in this specific area was just another attempt at showing Africa as an impoverished continent.
A trip to Africa is not complete without the trademark poverty porn photo op. https://t.co/RwDcupVcNC
— Bruce ???????? (@ngwata_) June 5, 2018
Next time you visit, don't come empty handed just to take pics, come with shoes or clothes for those kids..I know you have more than enough. Thank you.
— Miss Kyle???????? (@KenyanOG_) June 5, 2018
Next time you tour Africa, try also showing the world the other side. Not poverty and despair
— #TheNetwork254 (@DonVictorSimon) June 6, 2018
U coulda taken pics in rich/tush neighbourhoods.
But no. U want to showcase africa as poor and impoverished
And they say u have sense o
— Mudi Bankz™ (@battousaii_) June 5, 2018
I’m starting to feel like phones or cameras should be banned when foreigners are visiting or going for peace keeping missions or voluntary work. ????
— Amadoda wonke aweWakanda Ngawami???????????????????????? (@Kofi_SiribosBae) June 5, 2018
This cliche of Africa is overdone. You could have put in an image of one of countless world class resorts. #povertyisnottheonlyfaceofafrica
— monica zodwa cheru (@zimbabwewriter) June 6, 2018
And now for the customary picture with “Poor Black Children” https://t.co/QETPOnwya6
— Kelechi Okafor (@kelechnekoff) June 5, 2018
If things were different, taking pictures with impoverished white children would never be idolized the way that taking pictures with poor black and brown children is.
I’m going to start going around England taking pictures with white children. Possibly handing them a cube of Maggi.
— Kelechi Okafor (@kelechnekoff) June 6, 2018
At the time of publication, Ellen DeGeneres has yet to respond to the backlash. Was she out of line for posting the photo?
