No more 'dance lady': Ellen DeGeneres is 'frightened' by violence against protesters, wants to be 'ally for change'
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres shared that the response to the Black Lives Matter movement in the US is "frightening". She had recently revealed that she did not want to be known as the "dancing lady" anymore. She had also interviewed Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on 'The Ellen Show' and had got candid on how disappointed she was with the "lack of leadership" while referring to POTUS Donald Trump.
Ellen had shared, "It's frightening to me. And it is not a partisan thing. Even these peaceful protesters who were in Washington, and they (military) throw tear gas so he (Trump) can go get a photo op with a Bible in his hand."
The 62-year-old had opened up and shared with her audience that she wanted to use her massive platform and fan following to fight for change. "I stand with the protesters who are exercising their rights, and I want to be an ally fighting for change," Ellen had said.
"As a white person I don't always know what to say – right now I think white people have to sit in our discomfort and admit that there's a lot we don't know about a black person's experience," she explained. "There's horrible injustice towards black people that has been ignored for far too long."
"I have tried to use my platform to raise awareness on different issues over the years. I like to think that I'm doing my best, but I think it's time we look at ourselves and saw we have not done enough. I want to learn how to be a better person, how to do better. I was the dancing lady for a little while, and now I want to educate my audience. I want to educate myself," she revealed.
The BLM movement has picked up pace given the death of 46-year-old George Floyd who died while being arrested by a now-former police officer, Derek Chauvin, on May 25. An official post-mortem examination declared the death of George Floyd as a homicide on Monday, June 1.
Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes and refused to budge even as Floyd repeatedly said he was unable to breathe. The entire incident was caught on video and sparked outrage across the nation. Around two weeks ago, Ellen had said, "I haven't spoken directly because I don't know what to say. I am so sad and I am so angry. I know I'm not going to say the right thing, I know there are going to be a lot of people who are in disagreement with what I say, but I have a platform and I have a voice and I have always stood for equality."
"I'm just so sorry that it's come to this. I really don't know what to say other than this has gone on way, way, way too long. People have gotten away with murder. That's what's happening. We've got to see fairness and justice for all, because right now this is not a fair world, not at all."