Cher Apologizes for Saying She Could Have ‘Helped’ George Floyd

Cher issued an apology on Twitter after being blasted by social media users for tweeting she could have “helped” prevent George Floyd’s death.

CNN reports the singer and actress wrote in a since-deleted tweet on April 2: “Was talking with Mom & She Said ‘I Watched Trial Of Policeman Who Killed George Floyd & Cried’. I Said ‘Mom, I Know This Is Gonna Sound Crazy, But…I Kept Thinking …..Maybe If I’d Been There…I Could’ve Helped.”

After she was called out by some fans for looking at Floyd’s death through the lens of a “white savior,” the singer and Moonstruck star backpedaled by writing on Twitter: “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.”

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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

— Cher (@cher) April 3, 2021

Some fans told Cher her comments were “problematic.”

@wickedkins wrote: “No one is arguing the intention wasn’t good, but maybe you should try to see why it was problematic? Even if your heart was in the right place.”

@AHEART0FSTONE tweeted: “We know you always mean well at the end of the day, babe. But to the Black community, when read, it comes off as them needing a white person to come save them once again. When in reality, they should have the basic right to exist, like you and I. That’s why it caused upset.”

Related Story: Cedric the Entertainer Says ‘Son of the South’ Is Not a ‘White Savior’ Movie (Video)

The 74-year-old Burlesque star then followed up with a final tweet on the matter.

“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, I’M TRULY SORRY If I Upset AnyOne In Blk Community. I Know My heart,” Cher tweeted.

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.I Know My??

— Cher (@cher) April 3, 2021

Twitter user @AutumnJewel63 replied back: “To the people in these replies, if you are not Black, you cannot accept Cher’s apology or tell her that she didn’t need to apologize. Her heart was in the right place, but to say that she would’ve saved George Floyd from dying gave off the air of white saviorism.”

The televised criminal trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is accused of murdering Floyd, is currently underway. Testimony from bystanders began last week. Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to the multiple charges against him.