Film & TV4 min(s) read
Published 17:54 01 Feb 2021 GMT
Teen Mom fans have called for Mackenzie McKee to be fired after she used an offensive term to describe Vice President Kamala Harris.
Drama was ignited when the 26-year-old reality star took to her official Facebook page to criticise the first woman to be elected as Vice President of the United States.
McKee, who was first launched into the public eye after appearing on the MTV series 16 and Pregnant back in 2011, wrote in a scathing Facebook status:
"Sorry, no. There are a lot of amazing women in the world for my daughters to look up to and see as role models. Kamala Harris is not one of them."
However, McKee then used inflammatory language in the comments of her post, writing: "It blows my mind that out of all the amazing colored people in this world, that is the one who is making history."
The term "coloured" is a highly offensive racial slur as it dates back to segregation.
As recent ago as the 60s, Black people in the US were not allowed to mix with white people on public transport, in concert halls, hotels and even at drinking fountains. Black people were instead designated specific areas, which were labelled as "coloured-only".
Speaking to the BBC, the charity Show Racism the Red Card explained: "[It] was used to describe anybody who was not white, which may imply that to be white is 'normal' or default.
"If we consider it, every human has a skin colour, so technically we are all coloured."
Following McKee's racist remarks, a number of critics have since taken to social media to condemn McKee's offensive word choice, and many have called for a public apology or for stern repercussions.
For instance, in a post on a fan forum for Teen Mom, one Reddit user wrote: "The fact she isn't on hot water with mtv is unreal. [sic]"
Another person wrote: "Soooooo MTV producers do your thang and ditch this b****."
A third person chimed in: "It was one thing when my 90-something grandfather used this outdated term and I had to correct him ...but hoo boy this is an entirely different situation."
According to The Hollywood Gossip, McKee has since responded to the backlash by apologising.
Taking to Twitter, she wrote: "Growth is being called out and learning from my mistake, even if I meant no harm verses [sic] making excuses for myself and justifying it.
"I'm thankful for being called out so I can learn, grow, do and be better.
"Those articles are so far off of who I am. And my sincere apology is owed to anyone I hurt because that is not who I am or my intentions."
However, those on Twitter have responded to the apology by urging MTV to put things rights by axing the reality personality.
One wrote: "I just got blocked by a "star" of @TeenMom @DouthitKenzie because I said she should be fired for using the word "colored". It's true."
Another added: "This is gross and unacceptable! This goes beyond tone deaf and I would hope @MTV @TeenMom_OG take the correct path and fire @DouthitKenzie as they should never provide a platform for racism."
Moments after, a third tweeted: "Just FYI to your followers, if they’re not Black, it’s NOT THEIR APOLOGY TO ACCEPT!! What you said was offensive AF & 'apologizing after being called out' is the bare minimum of what you can do to make sure you’re starting the labor of anti-racism, if that’s really your intention [sic]."
MTV is yet to comment on whether it will be taking action against McKee.
