Former “Fashion Police” host Kelly Osbourne is in hot water for remarks she made on “The View” Tuesday regarding Latinos.
During a discussion about the front-runner status of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Osbourne said that “If you kick every Latino out of this country, then who is going to be cleaning your toilet, Donald Trump?”
Osbourne then quickly backtracked: “No, I didn’t mean it like that! Come on! I would never mean it like that! I’m not part of this argument.”
"If you kick all Latinos out of this country, who is going to be cleaning your toilet Donald Trump" – #KellyOsbourne pic.twitter.com/bYjFWjDuC5
— BallerAlert (@balleralert) August 4, 2015Even if her intention was to satirize Trump’s controversial stance on immigration, a lot of viewers were unamused.
Dear @KellyOsbourne:
Almost half of women in LA (48%) are Latinas. And they're not all cleaning toilets.
cc @ACampoverdi @emergingUS
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) August 4, 2015In an attempt to make Donald Trump see the ignorance of his racism, Kelly Osbourne made an ignorant and racist comment herself. Ironic.
— Brandon Evers (@BrandonEvrs) August 4, 2015It's dope that both Brown and Black people are up in Kelly Osbourne's mentions like pic.twitter.com/Nu3V7ql5PY
— Grand Daddy Au Jus (@LunchLord) August 4, 2015This Kelly Osbourne thing is an example of how liberal racism feels superior to right wing racism but is still just regular ol' racism…
— Stereo Williams (@stereowilliams) August 4, 2015Let Kelly Osbourne's comments serve as a reminder… Some of the most racist ppl in the world will consider themselves to be an "ally"
— Mr. October (@TheAndreGeorge) August 4, 2015Kelly Osbourne seriously chose the worst words to explain Trump's conflict directed towards Mexicans.. Smh.
— Dani (@danielleariana5) August 4, 2015Not only did Osbourne become a national trending topic on Twitter, but the hashtag #QueridaKellyOsbourne (which translates roughly to Dear, Kelly Osbourne) inspired some poignant commentary about the danger of the stereotypes:
#QueridaKellyOsbourne: I'm a latina. I scrubbed toilets once. Now, I'm a writer.
— Aura Bogado (@aurabogado) August 4, 2015#QueridaKellyOsbourne there's nothing wrong w scrubbing toilets, what's wrong is assuming that it is our *only* value to US society
— belen (@mbvillarreal) August 4, 2015these stories on #QueridaKellyOsbourne show the sacrifice of women in our lives :/ does anyone ask them about their dreams and aspirations
— Elizabeth (@SchoolGirlQ) August 4, 2015Even former “View” co-host Sherri Shepherd joined the conversation, although after initially being critical, the comedian offered sympathy to Osbourne:
oooh Lawd @KellyOsbourne latinos can only clean toilets… what are blacks good for? breastfeeding dem babies! Girl what did you just say!
— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) August 4, 2015cutting @KellyOsbourne a little slack, bc I've done it myself … sometimes isht comes out of your mouth live that you didn't mean to say
— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) August 4, 2015Current “View” co-host Rosie Perez, a Latina actress, came to Osbourne’s defense at the end of the show and on social media:
My apologies @KellyOsbourne, I took your point wrong-#Trump #Latinos. My bad. You're heart is so pure & righteous. I adore you. @TheView
— Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) August 4, 2015Ironically it was Osbourne who called out her fellow “Fashion Police” co-host Giuliana Rancic for insensitive comments she made at black actress Zendaya’s expense back in February. Rancic had joked that the young star’s dreadlocks smelled “like patchouli oil … or weed” at the Academy Awards.
I DID NOT MAKE THE WEED COMENT. I DO NOT CONDONE RACISM SO AS A RSULT OF THIS IM SEREIOULSY QUESTIONONIG STAYING ON THE SHOW!
— Kelly Osbourne (@KellyOsbourne) February 24, 2015Osbourne left the show shortly after that incident and Rancic offered a lengthy public apology.
Meanwhile, the daughter of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and judge on the upcoming “Project Runway Junior,” has since taken responsibility for her “poor choice of words” and denied being racist in a profanity-laced Facebook post.
“I whole-hearted f–ked up today. I don’t want to bullshit anyone with lame excuses. Although, I was stopped mid-sentence by Rosie [O’Donnell] and couldn’t finish my point I will not let Rosie take responsibility for my words. I should have known better as I was on ‘The View’ and it was live,” Osbourne wrote. “I’ve learned a very valuable lesson. It is my hope that this situation will open up a conversation about immigration and the Latin community as a whole. By the way I clean my own f–king toilets.”
Adam Howard