Real Talk May 12, 2020
‘Southern Charm’ Star Apologizes After Sending Monkey Emoji to Black Radio Host
Instagram
“Southern Charm” star Kathryn Dennis has issued an apology after she sent a monkey emoji to Tamika Gadsden, a black radio host in South Carolina.
Sunday on Twitter, Gadsden called out Katie Shields – the owner of Mylk Bar, a nail salon in Mount Pleasant – for organizing a Donald Trump event urging attendees to wear “Keep America Great” merchandise.
“In Charleston you learn, fairly quickly, that the face of White Supremacy resembles that of the boutique-owning, gatekeeping glitterati,” Gadsden wrote on her page.
In Charleston you learn, fairly quickly, that the face of White Supremacy resembles that of the boutique-owning, gatekeeping glitterati. This is Katie Shields, owner of Mylk Bar in Mt. Pleasant. She's organizing a Nautical MAGA rally with her friends. Katie is reprehensible. pic.twitter.com/0CWSWRS0gz
@mikagadsden
Gadsden then had a heated Instagram exchange with Dennis, who follows Shields's nail salon on Instagram. During their argument, Dennis types the monkey emoji after telling Gadsden to “grow a pair.”
“This is what happens when a Black woman in #Charleston speaks up against white supremacy in the form of MAGA rallies. My comments re: Mylk Bar prompted this @BravoTV 'actor' @KathrynDennis to taunt me with monkey emojis in my DMs. Along with a whole host of other names,” Gadsden wrote alongside screenshots of their conversation.
This is what happens when a Black woman in #Charleston speaks up against white supremacy in the form of MAGA rallies. My comments re: Mylk Bar prompted this @BravoTV “actor” @KathrynDennis to taunt me with monkey emojis in my DMs. Along with a whole host of other names. pic.twitter.com/RbEd5CBcOz
@mikagadsden
Additionally, after Gadsden wrote an IG Story asking “white people” to “challenge the explicit and subtle white supremacy you see everyday” by supporting businesses owned by people of color, Dennis said Gadsden's use of “white people” was “so racist.”
I guess I didn't give her the response she wanted. pic.twitter.com/Ll0sJu9wOi
@mikagadsden
On Monday, Dennis issued an apology, saying her use of the monkey emoji against Gadsden “was offensive.”
“Although the context was not my intention, there are no 'if ands or buts' that excuse me,” Dennis wrote on Twitter. “I did not give it thought, and it was and is wrong.”
I want to acknowledge that using a monkey emoji in my text was offensive, and from the bottom of my heart I sincerely apologize to anyone and everyone I hurt. Although the context was not my intention, there are no “if ands or buts” that excuse me... part 1
@KathrynDennis
Part 2: ....I did not give it thought, and it was and is wrong. I know I am not that person. I know and will do better
@KathrynDennis
However, Gadsden refuses to accept Dennis's mea culpa.
Apology not accepted.https://t.co/JWAjsMxT5c
@mikagadsden
On Tuesday, Gadsden further explained that the issue is not about the emoji, but about “challenging 'powerful' white women who uphold white supremacy.”
This is NOT about an emoji. It's about challenging “powerful” white women who uphold white supremacy. And when a WOC, @PepiRod, dared to do that, she was met with vitriol and threats. Don't erase her!
@mikagadsden
According to a study about “negative racial stereotypes” from Ferris State University, African Americans have been wrongly compared to animals throughout history in order to denigrate them as “savage” and a “perceived threat.”
