Bette Midler Apologizes After Using N-Word In Tweet

Actress and singer Bette Midler caught social media backlash Thursday night after posting an offensive tweet about feminism, in which she said “women are the n-word of the world,” and the “most disrespected creatures on earth.”

The actress claims she was quoting the title of the 1972 song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which she referred to in a since-deleted post.

Social media was quick to call out Midler, who is white, and remind the actress of American history.

This is why we can’t have nice things. Black women were literally and LEGALLY property. Fact: Many white women owned/abused slaves right along with their husbands. Ever seen a lynching picture? Guess what you don’t see: White women crying. Respect American History. @BetteMidler pic.twitter.com/AixOFYXYu8

— Tim Black ™ (@RealTimBlack) October 5, 2018

Midler defended her statement in a second tweet.

“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 tweeted, according to a screenshot captured by the Post. “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’s clarification only added fuel to the conversation.

“I see you have decided to double-down on this insensitive, ridiculous madness … Your privilege is showing!” Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner tweeted.

@BetteMidler I see you have decided to double-down on this insensitive, ridiculous madness. Your arrogance and deliberate disregard for the experiences of Black women and by extension The Black community as a whole is breath-taking. Your privilege is showing! https://t.co/yUNGB69WUx

— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) October 5, 2018

Midler tried to defend her point by referencing a New Yorker report about how the FBI investigation ignored testimonies from former classmates of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh – who is accused of sexual misconduct by several women – and tweeting “See what I mean?”

The Hocus Pocus actress eventually deleted the tweets and apologized for her choice of words that she said were “angrily” spurred on by the “the too brief investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh.”