Jewish ‘Bachelor’ Contestant Apologizes To Black ‘Bachelorette’ For Offensive Tweet
Leah Block, a Jewish contestant from ‘The Bachelor,’ tweeted an apology to Rachel Lindsay, the franchise’s first black bachelorette, for a tweet she posted during Monday’s episode.
Block tweeted, “I’m sitting here watching @BacheloretteABC and my roommate just sat down on the couch and said, What is this? @LoveAndHipHop_? DEAD.”
For those of you who can’t figure it out based on context clues, “Love And Hip Hop” is a reality television franchise that documents the lives of rap, R&B, and hip-hop producers, the great majority of whom are black. In other words, because Rachel Lindsay is black, she belongs (according to Block’s roommate) on “Love and Hip Hop.”
A hilarious joke, truly one for the ages.
Lindsay, who is not to be messed with under any circumstance, quickly tweeted a response to Block’s now deleted tweet.
Let me know if she wants to meet Lee…they sound like they would have a lot in common #ihavetimetoday https://t.co/CgEzZLxAWJ
— Rachel Lindsay (@TheRachLindsay) June 20, 2017
Lindsay is referring to Lee Garrett, a contestant on her own season who made headlines for his extremely offensive Twitter account, replete with racially charged tweets of his own.
Block, acutely aware that she was out of her depth, issued a long apology on her Facebook page, vowing to be try harder in the future.
“I come forward honestly and openly, to extend my sincere apology for the tweet from my account on Monday, June 19th regarding the current season of The Bachelorette,” wrote Block.
“Our Society should have no place for hate that targets any minority group. We can’t make the future better until we make ourselves better. And I’m starting now.”
It’s nice to know that we live in an era where people are called out when they cross lines. This will hopefully serve as a lesson to Block — educate yourself or stop tweeting.
Becky Scott is the editor of The Schmooze. Follow her on Twitter at @arr_scott
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
