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Bette Midler Apologizes After Calling Women 'The N-Word Of The World' In Deleted Tweet
In response to social media criticism, Midler initially seemed to dig in her heels before finally apologizing for what many considered a racially insensitive statement.
Bette Midler has apologized after a tweet referring to women as the “n-word of the world” was met with immense backlash online.
The 72-year-old Broadway veteran wrote on Twitter on Thursday, in a post that’s since been deleted, that “women, are the n-word of the world,” according to Fox News. Many online pointed out how offensive such a statement is to black women, who deal with discrimination both as a racial minority and as women, and Midler apologized for her statements in another tweet on Thursday night, explaining that she was “infuriated” by the Kavanaugh allegations and tweeted without thinking.
Senate nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women and, following a brief investigation by the FBI, the Senate is expected to vote on the matter in the next few days.
“The too brief investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh infuriated me,” Midler 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.”
Midler’s original statement described women as “the most disrespected creatures on earth,” according to Fox News.
“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,” she reportedly wrote.
According to Fox News, in a second tweet that has also been deleted, Midler stood by her original statement, explaining that the “n-word” quote was referencing a song by the same name that Yoko Ono and John Lennon released in 1972 (and which has itself been criticized).
“I gather I have offended many by my last tweet. ‘Women are the…etc’ is a quote from Yoko Ono from 1972, which I never forgot,” Midler wrote, according to Fox News. “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.”
Midler also shared a link to an article about the FBI’s Kavanaugh investigation, writing, “See what I mean?” alongside it, according to Fox News.
[Photo: Getty Images]
