Ellen DeGeneres’ birthday trip to Africa has ended in social media users attacking the talk show host for posting ‘poverty porn’.
DeGeneres has been sharing numerous photos to her Instagram page from her trip to Rwanda to celebrate her 60th birthday. Most of the photos show the comedian petting elephants, trekking up a mountain to see gorillas and posing in a safari with wife, Portia de Rossi.
One picture, however, has ignited a social media firestorm. In the image, DeGeneres smiles broadly at the camera while 14 African children crowd around her in the middle of a field.
Ellen DeGeneres was accused of ‘poverty porn’ after she posted the above photo of herself surrounded by ‘poor’ African children
One Twitter user called the photo a ‘misfire’ and lashed out at the comedian and talk show host for taking the photo
Another Twitter user told DeGeneres she should have posted photos of ‘the actual beauty of Africa’
‘Why are we still depicted by this?’ one angry Twitter user commented
‘There’s more Africa than poor looking kids’ another user posted on Twitter
Another called the photo the ‘classic I visited Africa’ photo
In the caption, she thanked ‘all the amazing people’ she met on her trip but many people accused DeGeneres of participating in ‘poverty porn’, defined as the exploitation of the poor to gain sympathy or donation money.
‘Stop exploiting African babies!!’ one person commented on Instagram.
‘A trip to Africa isn’t complete without the obligatory photo with “poor” African kids. How else will people know you took a trip to an African country?’ another person posted.
Another wrote: ‘Why didn’t she post the pictures of the lavish neighborhoods of Africa? Stop portraying bad image (sic) of Africa to the world!!!’
Others took to Twitter to lash out at DeGeneres, who has yet to comment on the backlash.
‘This is a misfire. White tourist taking a pic with anonymous group of ‘happy but poor African kids’ always is. Examine your motivations in taking this pic- be honest. Showing how ‘real’ your experience was? Did kids consent to this being posted? These kids aren’t props,’ Twitter user Tara Fernando tweeted.
‘Ellen, the purpose of #VisitRwanda is to encourage tourism and business opportunities. You’re not helping by participating in Poverty Porn,’ user Lando wrote. ‘Africans don’t travel to your country to take pictures with your half-a-million homeless people. Please do better. We are no ones charity.’
Ellen DeGeneres arrived in Africa on May 27 to celebrate her 60th birthday
DeGeneres flew to Rwanda to meet with various wildlife conservation foundations after her wife surprised DeGeneres by creating The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund
The fund supports global conservation efforts for critically endangered species. Its first initiative is to help build a permanent home for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
DeGeneres’ wife, Portia de Rossi (right), surprised the talk show host in February by creating the foundation
During the trip, Rossi and DeGeneres trekked the mountains to see gorillas
The couple also snapped a few photos with giraffes and other wildlife animals during the trip to Rwanda
DeGeneres has shared numerous photos from her trip to Rwanda. She arrived back home on Wednesday after spending more than a week in Africa
DeGeneres, who turned 60 in January, arrived in Rwanda on May 27 to meet with various wildlife conservation foundations after her wife surprised DeGeneres by creating The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund.
The fund supports global conservation efforts for critically endangered species. Its first initiative is to help build a permanent home for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
In May, actor Ashton Kutcher and manager Guy Oseary appeared on an episode of the Ellen DeGeneres Show and surprised the host with a $4million gift for her namesake fund.
Kutcher said he was compelled to donate after hearing about how passionate DeGeneres is about the fund.
‘I ran into you on the beach, and you told me about this amazing birthday gift that you got from Portia, and you explained to me that if you weren’t doing this, that would you would be working on is that project, right?’ Kutcher said.
‘Yeah I would be saving the gorillas, yes,’ DeGeneres replied.
‘But you never ask anyone for anything ever,’ Kutcher added. ‘And you said at one point, “I’m going to need some help with this”, and I said, “You’re asking me for help?” You never ask anyone for help ever!’
DeGeneres was speechless and even appeared emotional during the episode thanking Kutcher and Oseary for their generosity.