Firestorm After Bette Midler Tweets 'Women Are N Word of the World'

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Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

October 04 2018 10:58 PM EST

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Bette Midler, trying to make a point about the scourge of misogyny, published a series of offensive tweets that were dismissive of the African-American struggle.

"'Women, are the n-word of the world,'" Midler wrote in a now-deleted Thursday night tweet that was screen-shot by USA Today.

"Raped, beaten, enslaved, married off, worked like dumb animals; denied education and inheritance; enduring the pain and danger of childbirth and life IN SILENCE for THOUSANDS of years They are the most disrespected creatures on earth."

The first line of Midler's tweet quotes a 1972 song by Yoko Ono and John Lennon (Ono used the phrase in an interview prior to the song's release). After extreme backlash to the phrasing and sentiment, Midler offered an explanation; one that only enflamed the situation.

"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. 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 then deleted that tweet and offered up a more thoughtful response, relating it to Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

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\u201cThe 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.\u201d
— bettemidler (@bettemidler) 1538709815

Many remain unhappy with Midler and want to see her follow up her apology with action.

\u201cNow she needs to give Black Women's Blueprint a donation and make full amends. https://t.co/WUv54kQtEp\u201d
— Rosa A. Clemente (@Rosa A. Clemente) 1538713727