Cher has taken to social media to apologize after tweeting about George Floyd.
The 74-year-old pop icon provoked controversy earlier last week when she took to her official Twitter account to comment on the ongoing trial of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin, who stands accused of police brutality in the killing of Floyd via asphyxiation.
As per Page Six, in a now-deleted tweet posted to the singer's account on Friday (April 2), Cher wrote:
"Is Gonna Sound CRAZY, But.. I Kept Thinking …..Maybe If I'd Been There,…I Could've Helped [sic]."
The musician's statement provoked outrage from a number of Twitter users, with many accusing Cher of being unable to view the situation objectively because of her privilege.
For instance, one Twitter user wrote: "If the firefighter EMS who tried to intervene didn't succeed, you sure had no chance. What a post!! Mindboggling. Do you think you have some kind of magical power? Police would not allow anyone to interfere in their business."
Cher later reaffirmed her feelings in a tweet written on Saturday, stating:
"Wrestled With This Twt, Because I Thought some ppl wouldn’t understand, Or Believe an Entertainer Could have Honest emotions about a human Being,suffering & Dying,even if It’s Only Shown On tv. You Don’t Know What I’ve Done,Who I Am,Or What I Believe.I CAN,I HAVE,& I WILL..HELP [sic]"
Cher has since apologised for her comments, writing in a new tweet:
"I Just got off phone With Friend Karen.Told her what Happened,& Realized,You Can Piss Ppl Off,& Hurt Them By Not Knowing Everything That’s”NOT Appropriate”To Say.
I know Ppl Apologize When They’re In a Jam,BUT🤚🏼TO GOD🙏🏼,IM TRULY SORRY If I Upset AnyOne In Blk Community. [sic]"
Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter after he knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes while arresting him on May 25, 2020.
Floyd's subsequent death sparked a wave of protests across the United States and beyond over racial profiling and police brutality, after CCTV footage of his arrest and tragic death circulated on social media.
