“Donate more money”: how the stars were criticized for the “wrong” fight against racism

In the United States, protests continue that began after death during the detention of African-American George Floyd. Many stars of show business did not remain aloof from what is happening: they note the need to combat racism, distribute petitions, publish photos of protests. Someone has already donated large sums to organizations for the struggle for equal rights, while others still support them with words. However, both the former and the latter are at risk of being criticized by those whom they help if they consider their help “wrong” or “insufficient”.

Celebrities are often told what they could do much more with the #BlackLivesMatter campaign. Social network users expect stars to invest large sums in solving the global problem and hold political leaders accountable. Other manifestations of solidarity are often subjected to harsh criticism.

The director Taiki Waititi, who said that he understands the feelings of the protesters, but noted that there are ways to “direct this anger,” led to unexpected consequences. As a result, the director was accused of not understanding the feelings of African Americans and was advised to keep his opinion to himself.

“You are not black and you have no right to decide when and how black people should express their pain and anger. Why don't you open your wallet and use your position to replenish our resources and help our voices be heard? I’m very disappointed with you, ”one of the Twitter users wrote to the director.

The problem with saying nothing. pic.twitter.com/4SJV4Nhfxh

The tweets of TV presenter Ellen Degeneres were also criticized (to date, they have been deleted). On Saturday, May 30, DeGeneres published two messages at once, causing a negative reaction from subscribers.

“Like many of you, I am angry, and I am sad,” she wrote in one of her posts.

“Colored people in this country have faced injustice for too long. For something to change, you need to change something. We must be ready to implement these changes with conviction and love, ”the TV presenter also noted.

Users of the social network found these messages too vague and ineffective, and Degeneres was accused of supporting war criminals and called for a donation.

“1) It's about blacks 2) It's not love if you just want to“ affectionately ask oppressed people to stop damaging (someone else's - RT ) property ”3) Donate more money. You're on a short footing with war criminals, ”one of Twitter users wrote.

After that, the TV presenter transferred money to the accounts of organizations combating racism and spoke out in support of the protesters.

Almost any exclusively emotional support, not supported by donations, specific appeals and the distribution of links to petitions, is considered inappropriate in social networks and is perceived with hostility.

So, musician Matthew Healy, who has not commented on the situation in the USA for a long time, posted on his Twitter a video for the song Love It If We Made It with the caption “If you really believe that“ all lives matter ”, you need to stop contributing to the extermination of blacks” . Subscribers were unhappy there that the artist allegedly uses tragedy to promote his work.

everyone: funny how matty healy is staying so silent despite having built his bands imagine around being politically charged

matty healy: * uses the situation to promote his own song *

everyone: okay maybe he was right to stay silent

Healy removed the tweet, apologized and explained that this song reflected his own feelings.

In a similar situation was DJ David Guetta, who held a concert on the roof and presented a musical composition with the famous speech of Martin Luther King. Some users of social networks laughed at the DJ, calling his reaction to what happened "the whitest."

In a wave of negativity, Instagram users met Emma Watson, who joined the #blackouttuesday flash mob. The actress posted three posts with black squares in white frames that accompany all her photos on the social network, as well as three posts with white squares. Users were outraged that Watson was thinking about the design of his page at that moment.

“The fact that you used a white frame to make the post consistent with the“ aesthetics ”of your page is just a shame,” said the author of one of the comments.

“What makes you think this is a good idea ???????????? White frame? Don’t make me laugh! ” - Another Instagram user wrote.

Again, many actress subscribers demanded financial support from activists.

“Open your wallet, publish links to donations and petitions. This is the least you can do. Many people have been waiting for your comment. For many, you are a role model. You are capable of more. Please, ”wrote the subscriber to the actress.

Watson later regretted that if people don’t talk about their position on social networks instantly, on the network this is perceived as indifference. The actress also published several posts on the need to combat racism.

View this Instagram post

It has made me sad that it seems if people don't post quickly on social media, or are trying to be respectful and provide space, this can be interpreted as apathy. Thank you @ yomi.adegoke

Posted by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) Jun 4, 2020 at 2:41 am PDT

Got the French brand Celine, which joined #blackouttuesday. The company was accused of hypocrisy, because, according to subscribers, the brand pursues a racist policy: it rarely hires black models and does not provide its clothes to black stylists and stars.

“The Celine brand rarely employs black models and, as you know, does not provide its clothes to black stylists and celebrities. Easier said than done. We want to see real changes, ”said an Instagram user under the publication Celine.

“I hope this is also reflected in your clothes, catwalk shows and brand principles, and not just in your posts on social networks,” they also specify in the comments.

But most of all the users of the social network are interested in whether the company plans to pay for the fight against equality: in a lot of comments, people again offer the brand “open a wallet” or ask whether donations have already been made.

Netizens literally baited Lana Del Rey, who posted a video on which looters hack stores. In the comments they wrote that such videos endanger the lives of African-Americans, and proposed to boycott the singer. After that, the artist deleted the post and published several photos of the protests.

Against the backdrop of the scandal, Internet users remembered the 2017 Pepsi advertisement featuring Kendall Jenner. According to the plot of the video, the girl leaves the photo shoot and goes out to the street where the protest unfolds. She takes a cold drink and offers it to one of the cops.

The video was criticized immediately after its release, but now users of social networks began to actively publish memes and frames from advertising. Some Twitter users even jokingly called on Jenner to stop the protests, noting that she only needed a soda can.

KENDALL JENNER GRAB A PEPSI AND GET YOUR ASS TO FAIRFAX AND MELROSE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN STOP THIS pic.twitter.com/yuxRTP9Y9X

The model took seriously the reaction of network users and wrote a long post in which she expressed her attitude to what is happening in the country. She noted that she could not fully understand the feelings of African-Americans, but she was sure that no one should live in constant fear. Jenner emphasized that she personally intends to continue to look for ways to help fight racism.

It is noteworthy that even the attention of celebrities to problems that, according to many network users, are currently not relevant enough, can cause criticism.

So, while most celebrities speak out about the problems of racism, Kylie Jenner decided to comment on what is currently of concern to her personally. In late May, Forbes magazine accused the model of falsifying tax returns and stripped her of the status of a billionaire. Jenner in her Twitter accused the publication of publishing false data and stated that she had never asked for any title and had not deceived anyone.

This is what you're worried about right now?

Messages of the model caused a negative reaction of some subscribers, who were surprised that Jenner was now worried about such "nonsense."