Ellen DeGeneres Racist? Joke Sparks Outrage at DeGeneres and The Ellen Show

Is Ellen DeGeneres a racist? We think that's quite a stretch, given her history. However, that's not what people are saying today.

Last night, Ellen DeGeneres posted the following image on her Twitter, @TheEllenShow:

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

-- Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016

While many took it as a harmless joke, a large number of Twitter users responded with anger to the post.

For example, user Jon Snow-ratio posted this response to Ellen DeGeneres' comment:

@TheEllenShow so the first thing that pops in your head when looking at this pic is "oh let me jump onto his back like he's a common mule"?

-- Jon Snow-ratio (@Jhoratio) August 15, 2016

Another Twitter user said that someone on Ellen DeGeneres' show, The Ellen Show should be fired:

@iyonah Right? Someone should be fired. That @TheEllenShow thought of this speaks volumes. I work in social. There are *multiple* approvals.

-- dai for night (@daibyday) August 15, 2016

There were also people who came to Ellen DeGeneres' defense:

Y'all are really trying to call Ellen racist?! Pls give me a break!!! https://t.co/jeL2WsGNDj

-- Nne (@nneomaluxe) August 16, 2016

Today, Ellen DeGeneres decided to address anger at her Twitter post by posting the following:

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

We have seen racism controversies with Ellen DeGeneres before. In 2015, she did a sketch mocking Nicki Miniaj's butt.

We've covered DeGeneres for a very long time and we're confident that she's not racist. She supports Artists Against Racism, as well as several other charities that help predominantly minority children.

She's also a close friend of several prominent black celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, on whose show she came out as a lesbian. As of yet, none of her celeb friends have come out in Ellen's defense.

We're sure that this faux Ellen DeGeneres outrage will quickly pass... that is, until whatever comes next.

This story has been updated. Photo (C) Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com

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