Despite being highly successful, educated and outspoken, Alyssa Milano seems to have spent much of her life under a rock – or maybe in her own little imaginary country. Last week the actress and activist tweeted “I don’t recognize my country anymore,” along with a link to a story about a planned Klu Klux Klan rally in Dayton, Ohio, Yahoo reported.
Twitter wasted no time getting Milano ‘all the way’ together. They asked Milano what country she’d been living in and how she could have missed the glaring fact that racism still exists. After much backlash, Milano responded to one user’s tweet writing, “Didn’t miss racism. Just hoped we were well past it. We elected a Black president. KKK parades are shocking to me. I wish they were shocking to everyone.”
That only made matters worse. Twitter users dragged Milano for being an “astonishingly naïve” and “privileged white” person who shouldn’t think President Barack Obama’s election signaled an end to racism in America.
They pointed out that President Obama experienced vast racism and bigotry during his two terms. After the immense faux pas, Milano admitted she’s lived “not only a privileged life, but also a bizarrely sheltered one” and grew up on “a diverse set … of total inclusion.” She also said she was willing to learn and stand side by side with those affected by racism.
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Still, there are some who weren’t buying Milano’s explanations. A Twitter user named “Freeborn Black Woman First of Her Name” said Milano’s tweets proved the actress uses white fragility to her advantage. Milano invited the user to meet with her while she is in Atlanta, where Freeborn resides.
Milano’s most recent causes include advocating against Alabama’s recent anti-abortion law (and other states who seek to adopt similar ones) as well as fighting for healthcare and other protections for transgender people.
Milano hosts a podcast called “Sorry Not Sorry” during which she addresses issues she is passionate about and hosts guests to discuss a variety of matters.
Her comments surrounding abortion were also met with criticism by some. NFL player Benjamin Watson, who is also an outspoken pro-life activist, called the actress out over some of her comments about abortion for saying the ban will hurt Black women in America.
