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Is Jennifer Garner racist? Actress slammed for 'white woman stare' after 2017 chat show clip resurfaces

'But do you know where your ancestors are from?' Jennifer Garner asked Regina King in an episode of Netflix's 'Chelsea'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jennifer Garner recently landed in hot water after a resurfaced clip from her 2017 appearance at Chelsea Handler's Netflix talk show 'Chelsea' went viral online. In the video, actress Regina King could be seen sharing how she was "very proud" for being "born and bred" in Los Angeles before being interrupted by Garner with a question about her ancestry. "But do you know where your ancestors are from?" the 'Elektra' star asked King. 

As the clip resurfaced on social media, several internet users claimed it was racially inappropriate for Garner to interrupt King, who is African-American, to ask about her ancestry. Twitter user @/greenbeann16_ claimed that Garner gave King the "white woman stare" when the latter said she was from LA.

Meanwhile, some pointed out that Garner's question was in the context of an episode titled 'Dinner Party: My American Experience' where the invited guests spoke about their "roots, patriotism, religion, and modern America’s complexities," as per Netflix. While the clip, posted by user @/FnpMarieOH on Twitter, sparked a major debate online, neither Garner nor King has addressed the conversation in public after their appearance on the Netflix show. 

Jennifer Garner's question sparks anger

In the resurfaced video from 'Chelsea', King could be seen talking about being born and brought up in Los Angeles after Handler told the group, "Let’s talk about our families first. Where we came from, where our parents came from. Why don't you start, Regina?" "I’m one of the few people that are born and bred in LA. I think that’s a cool thing, and I wear it on my chest very proudly, because so many people say, 'Oh, LA is this, and LA is that' – and I’m like, 'Well, you’re not from LA, so you don’t really know it," King shared in response. 

Garner could be seen interjecting, asking, "But do you know where your ancestors are from?" King explained, "Well, yeah – they were part of the triangle slave trade. From Sierra Leonne, Liberia, and Senegal. But my parents are both from the South. Met each other here. To this day, I am very grateful my mom left. My mom was the one that was like 'I am f***ing out of this b**** and I am going to see what else is out there' and she came to LA."

'We all know what she meant '

Several social media users called out the actress and accused her of giving King an allegedly "alarming" stare. "Nah Jennifer Garner definitely gave Regina King that white woman stare as she said she was from Los Angeles. I could tell she was about to be ignorant. Lmao they be thirsty for us to root our origin in slavery with nothing else mentioned or considered," one wrote. "The look is just so alarming, like how could I continue my sentence if someone looked at me like that???" another commented.

"Jennifer Garner, a white woman from TX, asking an African American woman where her ancestors came from because Regina said she is a LA native is completely racist and disgusting. Regina is better than me. It would have gotten REAL NASTY had she asked me that at this dinner table," a third remarked. One said, "It’s the timing of the question, how the question was worded, and Jennifer’s facial expression/disposition. We all know what she meant and the place that question came from. Regina is a whole lot better than me. Poised and classy woman" while another added, "The prejudice was brewing right in this moment," alongside a photo of Garner's expression. 

"She did this to humble and embarrass Regina. That stare? Straight out of the threatened white woman playbook," one alleged. "A yt person asking a Black american person, “do you know where your ancestors are from?” is actually a little sick and twisted," another commented. One claimed, "Ooo and you could see it stewing in her face right here like damn girl can I help you?????" while another asked, "Did you see her eyes twitching with racist Karen energy as soon as Regina said she was "born and bred from LA"?"

'The episode was about where their ancestors where from'

While many slammed Garner over her past comment, some noted that she asked the question in the context of the theme of the episode. One said, "The episode was about where their ancestors where from tho. She was just the one to ask Regina." Someone tweeted, "I went and started watching this episode and it’s called the American experience and literally everyone is getting asked how did there parents get to America and where they came from" while another claimed, "This is really unfairly clipped, the entire episode is about ancestry and how peoples parents came to America."

'I don’t give a damn about context'

However, some argued Garner's question cannot be excused even in the context of the episode. "It’s the “but” in front of the question that makes it so nasty. It dismisses everything Regina said about being from LA," one stated. "I don’t give a damn about context. They were asked to talk about themselves and parents. To question ancestry in that manner, knowing that answer could’ve been one of two things (knowing or not) due to slavery is wildly racist and should’ve never been said," another added. 

One argued, "I know everyone saying this is what the show is about but baby that yt lady face when Regina said she was born here Los Angeles tells me a different story" while another claimed, "A follow up: watching the ep, and this question was not asked to anyone else at the table. And Garner herself doesn't give a response about her own ancestors." Meanwhile, one said, "Side eyeing everyone who thinks adding context makes her question any better…."

Jennifer Garner's controversial 2003 remark

Prior to the latest controversy, Garner was under fire when an older clip from her 2003 appearance on 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' to promote her film 'Daredevil' emerged online in June, as reported by Newsweek. At the time, the '13 Going on 30' star shared that she was left with a swollen lip after filming a kissing scene with her costar Colin Farrell. 

"There was this moment that the director added where he thought it would be cool if Colin just nibbled on my lip and, I mean there's a lot there to nibble on granted, but every single take, he would go from like a little nibble to..." Garner told O'Brien while making chewing noises to mimic Farrell's actions. "The next morning I woke up and I walk out into the living room when my [now ex] husband Scott [Foley] sitting there [in shock]," the actress explained, adding, "And Colin said my lip looked like one of those African women with a plate in their mouths."

Several people were left offended by Garner's reference to women from the Mursi tribe to describe an anecdote, Newsweek reported. Twitter user @/SoumDesigns shared the clip on the platform and wrote, "Jennifer Garner said no rights for black people!" One user argued, "How is that clip saying no to rights? don't leap on stuff like that.. it demeans the stance and fight." However, SoumDesigns responded, "You understand completely what I mean, let's not play coy please, making fun of African culture is racist point blank." However, another said, "Omg y'all are reaching. Some JLO fan accounts share this clip and now let's run with it. Lame. We have real racism to worry about - this ain't it."