“Southern Charm” star, Kathryn Dennis, is being called out as racist after sending a monkey emoji to a Black radio show host.
via Page Six:
The Charleston, South Carolina, native had an ugly spat with radio host and activist Mika Gadsden over a planned “Trump Boat Parade” being thrown by local businesses, the messages show.
Dennis, 28, argued that supporting President Trump did not make her racist — then sent the emoji tweet in an angry exchange of direct messages.
“This is what happens when a Black woman in #Charleston speaks up against white supremacy,” Gadsden said as she shared the message, saying that Dennis also called her “a whole host of other names.”
Unpublished screenshots of the full chat show that Dennis relentlessly messaged the activist 28 times — calling her a “psycho” and asking if she had “a mom,” BuzzFeed News also revealed.
Dennis admitted Monday that “using a monkey emoji in my text was offensive.”
“From the bottom of my heart I sincerely apologize to anyone and everyone I hurt. Although the context was not my intention, there are no ‘if ands or buts’ that excuse me did not give it thought, and it was and is wrong. I know I am not that person. I know and will do better,” she wrote.
Gadsden wasn’t buying it. “Apology not accepted,” she wrote.
Fans were also outraged at her attempts to excuse what many branded “blatant” racism.
The exchange sparked a huge backlash online, with some calling her racism “blatant.”
“You cannot say that calling a black woman a MONKEY isn’t racist,” @_whoisstephanie wrote. “It doesn’t matter if you think it’s stupid or not because it’s offensive.”
AnneMarie Burgoyne called herself “a fan,” but tweeted, “I cannot excuse this! As a Southern Woman Kathryn, you knew exactly what you were doing, when you DM’d that emoji! I’m ashamed!”
She knew what she was doing.
This is what happens when a Black woman in #Charleston speaks up against white supremacy in the form of MAGA rallies. My comments re: Mylk Bar prompted this @BravoTV “actor” @KathrynDennis to taunt me with monkey emojis in my DMs. Along with a whole host of other names. pic.twitter.com/RbEd5CBcOz
— Mika Gadsden (@mikagadsden) May 11, 2020
I want to acknowledge that using a monkey emoji in my text was offensive, and from the bottom of my heart I sincerely apologize to anyone and everyone I hurt. Although the context was not my intention, there are no “if ands or buts” that excuse me… part 1
— Kathryn C. Dennis (@KathrynDennis) May 11, 2020
