Muthomi Ireri
Tiffany Haddish has addressed criticism after posting a video from a supermarket in Zimbabwe, where some accused her of patronizing Africans.
The 44-year-old comedian and “Girl’s Trip” star shared a TikTok video showing well-stocked shelves in a Harare grocery store, expressing her surprise and admiration for the produce available, including organic strawberries, sugarcane, and dates. Her exclamations, such as “They got a grocery store! It’s beautiful,” were seen by some social media users as condescending. Comments like “They think we’re chasing lions and zebras” and a Twitter post questioning her surprise about grocery stores in Africa reflected this sentiment.
In response, Haddish explained that as a Black American, she had been exposed to years of negative portrayals of Africa, including images of starvation and warnings about violence and war. These misconceptions made her and her friends hesitant to visit. Upon arriving in Zimbabwe, Haddish was emotionally moved by the disparity between what she had been told and the reality she witnessed.
While some criticized her remarks, others defended Haddish, recognizing the prevalent misconceptions about Africa. One supportive comment read, “Thanks Tiffany Haddish, some Zimbabweans like us understand where you are coming from.”
This is not the first time Haddish has faced backlash during her travels. Earlier this year, she defended her trip to Israel, expressing a desire to understand the situation firsthand amidst recent conflicts.
Haddish’s recent visit to Zimbabwe aimed to confront and challenge the stereotypes and misinformation about Africa that are widespread in the media.
Dj Vnyash
