Actress Bette Midler is facing backlash for a social media post in which she suggested that black attendees of one of President Donald Trump’s recent 2020 rallies were being paid by his campaign to be there.
“Look, there are African American men in this shot! How much did he pay them to be ‘blackground’?” Midler, 73, wrote in a post on July 24 that was accompanied by an image showing several African American men behind Trump at a recent rally.
Many fellow celebrities were quick to call the actress and singer out for her post, describing the comments as being “racist.” Among them was singer and vocal Trump supporter Joy Villa, who initially slammed Midler on July 24 for insinuating that “black Americans have absolutely no mind or values of their own” before calling the actress a “crusty racist” in a separate post on July 26.
“Really, Bette? REALLY? You’re this crazy to insinuate black Americans have absolutely no mind or values of their own & would only support their country & @realdonaldtrump for ‘money’? SMH you probably think they’re all pimps & black women like me are just hoes, too?” Villa wrote on July 24.
In her July 26 post on Twitter, Villa shared photos of herself at Trump rallies last year, saying that she was not paid to attend the events.
“Here I am, a Black woman with a Black man #blacksforTrump seated AT FRONT at the Las Vegas and Springfield MO @realDonaldTrump rallies last year. Airfair: $600+ Food: $200+ Hotels: $500+ Amount I got Paid/Reimbursed/gifted to attend: ZERO. @BetteMidler is a crusty racist,” she wrote.
Along with Villa, other stars in Hollywood have criticized Midler for her comments.
“Hey Bette Midler you sound racist! @realDonaldTrump did not pay any black people to support him! We can think for ourselves. I never received a checked! Has anyone received a Check? I support the POTUS for Free!” actor-comedian Terrence K. Williams wrote.
“Cheers” star Kirstie Alley also denounced the post, calling it “one of the most racist, degrading ‘jokes’ I’ve seen on Twitter.”
“This is one of the most racist, degrading ‘jokes’ I’ve seen on Twitter & that’s saying a lot. We get it Bette, you hate Trump & that’s your right but to imply Black men have to be PAID to celebrate their OWN political views is pure and REAL racism. And ’BLACKGROUND'?? WTF??!!” Alley said.
“If I were to run, I’d run as a Republican,” it reads. “They’re the dumbest group of voters in the country. They believe anything on Fox News. I could lie and they’d still eat it up. I bet my numbers would be terrific.”
Responding to the post, Trump wrote: “Washed up psycho Bette Midler was forced to apologize for a statement she attributed to me that turned out to be totally fabricated by her in order to make ‘your great president’ look really bad.”
“She got caught, just like the Fake News Media gets caught. A sick scammer!” he added.
