Salma Hayek 'Apologizes' to Black Actresses and Twitter Isn't Happy

Salma Hayek 'Apologizes' to Black Actresses and Twitter Isn't Happy

Her condescending remarks to Jessica Williams went viral last week.

Published February 3, 2017

Salma Hayek caught a lot of heat from the Twitterverse last week when an article about a women's luncheon during the Sundance Film Festival revealed that she made some pretty condescending remarks to former Daily Show correspondent and actress Jessica Williams.

During the conversation, which was meant to be empowering, Hayek rebuked Williams's comment that Black and trans women are constantly in conflict simply for the way they look, by asking, “Who are you when you’re not Black and you’re not a woman? Who are you and what have you got to give?”

Many felt the comment, and much else of what was said by Hayek and Shirley MacLaine (who was also at the luncheon) was tone deaf at best and extremely privileged at worst. Now that the conversation has blown up in her face, Hayek has taken to Instagram to apologize. Unfortunately, Twitter is giving her an L for that one, too.

  1. Jessica Addressed the Backlash against salma with some subtle shade of her own:
  2. Salma Finally Issued an 'Apology,' Defending Herself Against People's Misinterpretation of Her Words and Actions:

    I am so sorry that I did not respond earlier to the feelings and valid concerns many of you have expressed in the last few days about a story that was published this weekend by the Los Angeles Times. I had not checked my phone through the weekend and only saw the article last night. I am deeply disturbed by the way this story has misrepresented me and manipulated my words in printing them out of context. We all believed we were in a forum to brainstorm about ways in which women in the industry could thrive and that was my heart’s intention. I have always and will always support the empowerment and the voices of black women and women of color. It is inaccurate that I did not let Jessica express herself, she very passionately and eloquently spoke her mind and I listened and engaged in what she was saying. In fact I was very disappointed that the conversation was cut short and not able to continue. I am devastated that something that left me feeling inspired and empowered has since been depicted as a cat fight, and worse yet painted in this way by a female journalist. Rest assured, I will right this wrong…

    A photo posted by Salma Hayek Pinault (@salmahayek) on

  3. Sorry, Salma. Twitter Still isn't Here for it:

See how the stars of Hidden Figures sent a special message to Black girls with BET Breaks, above.

Written by Evelyn Diaz

(Photo from left: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen, Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Peabody Awards )

COMMENTS

Get More!

TRENDING IN CELEBS

SEE ALL TRENDING

Recommended

Latest in celebs