Ellen DeGeneres attempts to piggyback on Bolt meme, the internet freaks out

This is how I’m running errands from now on. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/gYPtG9T1ao

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2016

Ellen DeGeneres decided she would be clever and (literally) jump on the Usain Bolt meme that’s been making the rounds online since his stellar 100m gold medal run on Sunday night.

But many found the comedian/television show host’s decision to Photoshop herself on Bolt’s back offensive.

@TheEllenShow 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.

— Mike (@MikeAllen_47) August 15, 2016

@TheEllenShow@usainbolt So riding on his back like a mule, a horse as some form of property is fun to you…

Ok.

— 777-9311 (@MiQL) August 15, 2016

@TheEllenShow@usainbolt No, she’s not racist. But the image conjures a long #history many may not be familiar with. pic.twitter.com/YnNiRJYUP9

— Paul Guinan (@Boilerplate1893) August 16, 2016

The Tweet has triggered thousands of comments, many pointing out that although DeGeneres may not have meant to offend with the post, that it was nevertheless historically tone deaf and could be read as, at best, insensitive. DeGeneres later responded:

I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am.

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 16, 2016

And Bolt, who has appeared on the Ellen show in the past, did retweet her original post.