Ellen DeGeneres has been accused of being a racist after tweeting a meme of Usain.
The Photoshopped image showed her riding the back of the Olympic gold medalist in what is now an iconic image of him casually smiling at the camera during his winning 100 meter men’s final sprint.
The caption read: ‘This is how I’m running errands from now on.’
Backlash: Ellen DeGeneres was accused of being a racist after she posted a meme of her riding on Olympian Usain Bolt's back on Monday
Defending herself: The talk show host told her fans she is not racist in a tweet posted on Tuesday
The popular day time talk show host, 58, faced backlash on social media, with some branding it racist and insensitive.
'You thought it'd be funny to post a pic of yourself riding on the back of a Black man? Nope. Delete this racist garbage,' tweeted MikeAllen_47, of the meme.
'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"?', asked Twitter user Jon Snow-ratio.
Iyonah tweeted,'an apology won't do. This is utterly f*cking ridiculous. How dare you!?!?'
Insensitive? Some Ellen fans ojected to her attempt at humour
MiQL tweeted, 'So riding on his back like a mule, a horse as some form of property is fun to you... Ok..'
Another Twitter user wrote, 'Dear @TheEllenShow: Whatever intern thought this tweet was a good idea should be fired. Immediately.'
On Tuesday DeGeneres took to Twitter to insist she is not racist, telling her fans: ‘I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am.’
Iconic: Bolt casually smiled at the camera during his winning 100 meter men’s final sprint in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday
Coming to Ellen's defense, fourfivehours tweeted: '@TheEllenShow @usainbolt literally I'm black and don't take offense to this she's basically complimenting him on his speed and stamina.'
'@TheEllenShow I'm not offended,' tweeted one user.
Usain, who was a guest on her show last season, himself also re-tweeted the image.
Uproar: One Twitter user insisted 'delete this racist garbage'
Speaking out: Another Twitter user wrote, 'So riding on his back like a mule, a horse as some form of property is fun to you...Ok.'
Coming to her defense: Twitter user Fourfivehours wrote no offence was taken on their part
During Usain's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show late November, he raced young fitness trainer and fellow Jamaican Demarjay Smith and also reaffirmed his desire to hang up his spikes after the 2017 World Championships.
'I start training for the Olympics next Monday [October 12]. It will be my last Olympics,' he said.
'I should have one more World Championships but I'm not too sure what I want to do [after retiring]. Some people say I should try acting but I think I will stay in sport and figure out what I can do.'
Talk of the town: Bolt appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in November 2015
Bolt is seen today competing in the Men's 200m Round 1 - Heat 9 on Day 11 of the Games
When presenter Ellen praised Bolt by saying the fastest man in the world has a 'charming personality for television', the 100m and 200m sprinter joked 'what about my face?'
For the past two Olympics, Bolt has won gold in all three events he competes in: the 100-meter, the 200-meter and the 4x100-meter relay.
Once more claiming the title of fastest man in the world, the Jamaican sprint legend emerged victorious in his grudge match against American Justin Gatlin to win his third successive gold medal in the 100m final race on Sunday night, running the track in 9.81 seconds.
He will also compete in the upcoming 200 meter and 4x100 relay.
'It will be my last Olympics': The athlete reaffirmed his desire to retire after the upcoming 2017 World Championships in London during his appearance
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