Bette Midler apologises after being slammed for racially insensitive tweet

SHE is normally an internet darling but social media users have turned on Bette Midler and forced her into an apology over a racially insensitive tweet.

ACTRESS and singer Bette Midler sparked social media backlash after posting a racially insensitive tweet about feminism, in which she said “women are the n-word of the world,” and the “most disrespected creatures on earth.”

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

Bette Midler has angered the internet with a controversial Tweet. Picture: AFP

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

“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,” one Twitter user said.

The 'Beaches' actress doubled down and trued to defend her comments. Picture: Getty

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 an already heated conversation.

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

What in the unholy hell? @BetteMidler this right here👇🏾 is unacceptable and unbelievable. Black-folks were chattel for 250 years on this soil. Innate humanity denied generation after generation. In 2019, it will be 400 yrs since the first 20 Africans were forced here. Don’t ever! https://t.co/TjNG1QBijH

— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) October 5, 2018

Midler took one last jab at trying to prove her point by linking to 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?”

SEE WHAT I MEAN?? https://t.co/C5xReWPqa2

— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) October 5, 2018

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

The too brief investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh infuriated me. 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.

— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) October 5, 2018