Source: Jason LaVeris / Getty
All Bette Midler had to do was literally just sit there, eat her food and Tweet about Trump. Dassit.
But instead, she invoked Beyonce’s name to suggest that the iconic singer should do more to mobilize her base to vote out that man that occupies the White House.
“#Beyoncé has 133 million Instagram followers. More than double the people who voted for Trump. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the #BeyHive mobilized to defeat him? I also wouldn’t mind if a regular bee hive fucked his shit up,” the Tony-winning actress tweeted on Thursday night.
Sigh. Where do we even begin?
First, I understand Midler’s frustration with this president and the urgency she feels to oust Trump in 2020. Many of us do. And also I understand that thanks to social media, celebrities have more power and influence than ever before and that visibility can inspire folks to get out there and vote. But Beyonce did exactly that in 2016, having voting registration booths at her concerts and even stumping for Hillary Clinton and Ms. Thing still lost.
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty
But this is more than just wanting celebs like Bey to refuse to just “shut up and sing.”
Whether it’s Queen Bey getting her #BeyHive in check or pressuring former First Lady Michelle Obama and Stacey Abrams to run for president, white women like Midler continue to push this notion that it’s Black woman’s responsibility to save America from itself by doing all the work. And be very clear: That should not be on us.
Ninety-four percent of Black women voters did their job back in 2016. We good. This ain’t on us.
Meanwhile, 53 percent of white woman voters voted for Donald Trump, so one would think that this role of “voter mobilization” rightfully belongs to the Taylor Swifts, Katy Perrys and the Carrie Underwoods of the world. Those highly visible and influential white pop stars should be talking to their own about why they voted for a man that was caught on tape talking about grabbing women from their “p*****s”, is hell-bent on helping states restrict abortion access, and who refuses to push for any comprehensive equal pay and mandatory paid maternity leave legislation.
It’s women like Midler who should have their feet on their own necks demanding to know why white women are continuing to vote against their own interests.
Understandably, I am not alone in my feelings about Midler’s tone-deaf and entitled tweet. Black Twitter literally snatched every last edge from her hairline and reminded her that once again, Black women are not this country’s mules. Do your own work.
Black Twitter Rips Bette Midler’s Edges Clean Off For Wanting Beyonce To ‘Mobilize Voters’ was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
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I’m usually one who tries to be thoughtful and eloquent with my responses to things like this...but shut the fuck up Bette Midler.
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) September 20, 2019
Beyoncé and the Black women as a whole aren’t to blame for Trump. You should be talking to the 52% of white women who voted for him. FOH https://t.co/fbKxldyxIx
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Being Black means hyper visibility. & Beyoncé is arguably the most visible Black woman in the world. It’s time to explore the anti-black reasons y’all always choose her & her fan base to antagonize. Mean while y’all let the Taylor Swift’s be exempt from social responsibility
— Dominic Williams, RN (@MyLifeAsDnic) September 19, 2019
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I still remember you tweeting about women being the Niggers of the world so this tweet is simply an extension of that. Black women are not beholden to your whims of them fixing the world. Use your followers to make a difference and leave Beyoncé and the Beyhive alone.
— machine gun Kele (@kelechnekoff) September 20, 2019
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She did this in 2016 and campaigned for Hilary. White women still overwhelmingly voted for Trump https://t.co/Ts76bF1nEl
— Ashley K. (@AshleyKSmalls) September 19, 2019
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Bette Midler has got some nerve placing expectations on Beyoncé.
— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) September 20, 2019
Beyoncé campaigned for Hillary & had voter registration drives at her concerts. Go talk to Taylor Swift.
white people screw sh*t up & then depend on Black women's labor to fix their mess. Story as old as time. pic.twitter.com/ZRor4UnW0L
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No, you need to talk to other white women about not voting for the racist misogynist.
— Becca R 🦋♍😷¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@acceber910) September 20, 2019
Beyonce had voter registration at her concerts and actively campaigned for Hilary in 2016.
Or did you and Bette ignore that? WHY?https://t.co/LKedyviLs0
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Bette leave Beyoncé alone, 53% of WHITE WOMEN voted for that orange cesspit. Why don’t you get Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Kelley Clarkson or some other white celebs to mobilise their fans.
— YT: C’est Chancy (@JesuisChancy) September 20, 2019
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This is the WORST take of all time. Talk to White women, Ms. M. Talk directly to them. Your demographic group is upholding this white nationalist patriarchy, not Beyoncé fans. You’re a legend, but you’re not acting very legendary tonight.
— LOfficielEbony, JD (@LOfficielEbony) September 20, 2019
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When Beyonce was campaigning for Hillary in 2016 what were you doing? Worry about your damn self, Bette. pic.twitter.com/b1WdCTpzHg
— PJamma😷 (@mspammajamma) September 20, 2019
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Black women (who are the majority of Beyonce fans) already did their jobs. Y'all figure it out this time.
— L. Fisherman (@D0MXNXQUE) September 19, 2019
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Why, exactly, is that *our* job? Holla at the 52% of your folks who wouldn't support their own. Gather them first, and some of them are in the hive...
— Bärí A. Williams, Esq. (@BariAWilliams) September 20, 2019
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Have you spoken to white women?
— Valerie Complex (@ValerieComplex) September 20, 2019
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Black women have done the work & continue to. She did a concert FOR Hillary.
— Le Gateau Chocolat (@LeGateauChoc) September 20, 2019
53% of WHITE WOMEN still voted against their own interests for Trump. Where’s this same energy for Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian... the “beyhive” AREN’T the problem.
Stares caucasciously pic.twitter.com/vQycfcZcZ8
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You should probably talk to the 53% of white women who voted for Trump instead of expecting black women to carry this water.
— roxane gay (@rgay) September 20, 2019
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Keep us out your mouth 🐝🐝🐝🐝 pic.twitter.com/93DNtSLPOj
— YesHomo (@KennyAlphaOmega) September 19, 2019
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It would be black women to the rescue again 😑 But what has America done for Black women beside use them to gains rights for other people?
— Michelle Lovelace 😷 🖤✊🏿 (@bbsqrl87) September 19, 2019
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— Nyasha Junior, Ph.D. (@NyashaJunior) September 20, 2019
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How?? Work on the white women that voted for trump we did our part and we will continue but we are tired of being expected to pull the weight... pic.twitter.com/jMlJU3A80G
— Sharon (@Sharon27246986) September 19, 2019
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— JaneEyrerysTargaryen (@intrstller) September 20, 2019
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Which is all the more reason she needs to be calling on Taylor to step up, not Beyonce.
— Akilah Green (@akilahgreen) September 20, 2019
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Ima need for Bette Midler to keep Beyoncé’s name out of her fingers . Ask the racist why they voted for trump , and the rich politicians why they cheated ,not the Beyhive to vote him out because we tried Sis 🤷🏽♀️🙄 #beyhive #bettemidler
— MUA-pmpcosmetics (@makeugorgeous) September 20, 2019
