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Black Twitter Reacts To Chelsea Handler’s ’12 Years A Slave’ Tweets

Chelsea Handler got into some hot water last night after tweeting a plug for her book, shortly after Lupita Nyong’o’s historic “Best Supporting Actress” Academy Award win.

The comedian and talk show conducted a Twitter takeover for Huffington Post and tweeted “Congratulation #lupita” and promoted her book “Uganda Be Kidding Me” that will be out later this year. Many took offense to the post and were confused over whether or not she was trying to connect Lupita’s win to a joke:

Congratulations #lupita To pre order #ugandabekiddingme go to http://t.co/3LRljoT3jN #Oscars @chelseahandler pic.twitter.com/BurqtrFgEn

— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) March 3, 2014

Are you are trying to connect this book to @Lupita_Nyongo because she’s black and from Africa? Wow. RT@HuffingtonPostpic.twitter.com/rBLmWkY2TG

— Andrea Houston (@dreahouston) March 3, 2014

After “12 Years A Slave” won for “Best Picture,” Handler decided to plug her book again. This time, congratulating the film, making it even worse. Black Twitter was not here for it, or her earlier Lupita tweet, and weren’t amused by Handler’s carelessness.

Congratulations #12yearsaslave Go to Africa or buy #ugandabekiddingme http://t.co/1bisNvm3mm #aheadofthecurve #Oscars pic.twitter.com/Hu5wh7e3fm

— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) March 3, 2014

Saw @chelseahandler tweet about Lupita’s “cleavage” right before I got offline. Just returned and learned that wasn’t the worst of it!?

— Anna Holmes (@AnnaHolmes) March 3, 2014

Chelsea Handler is not funny. Is tacky. Is extremely disrespectful and I hope she loses a lot of opportunities after tonight. — Jazmin Michole (@JazzieBURR_) March 3, 2014

@HuffingtonPost@chelseahandler wow..whoever thought that was a good idea..needs to be fired — Yesha (@YeshaCallahan) March 3, 2014

By the end of the night, Handler tweeted “#imsorry” for her crass tweets.

Thank you @HuffingtonPost#imsorry –@chelseahandler

— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) March 3, 2014

Handler and her tweets are a great example of why diversity is needed in comedy. We can agree that folks can do better, including Variety Magazine, which shortened “12 Years A Slave” to just “slave” in their tweet.

There was still an overflow of positive support for Lupita on Twitter, though, including a lovely tweet from Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta.

NEXT: Beyonce Continues To Stun With New Costumes On “Mrs. Carter World Tour”

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