'I want to apologize to Amandla. I didn't understand the larger context of this cultural discussion and TRULY meant no disrespect to her or anyone else,' Cohen tweeted on Tuesday.
- July 15, 2015
AceShowbiz -
Andy Cohen issued an apology via Twitter on Tuesday, July 14 for slamming Amandla Stenberg over Kylie Jenner cornrows controversy. He offered apology after fans criticized his remark about the issue and started #BoycottBravo on Twitter.
In his first tweet, Cohen explained that people misinterpreted his remark. He insisted he made the comment not to insult Stenberg but to criticize the concept of online feuds. "To clarify, I gave the jackhole to an online feud & certainly not to the topic or to any individual. I ironically hate online feuds," so he wrote.
Cohen followed up the message with a longer apology directed specifically at Stenberg. "I want to apologize to Amandla," so the tweet read. "I didn't understand the larger context of this cultural discussion and TRULY meant no disrespect to her or anyone else."
The talk show host made the now-controversial comment during the Sunday, July 12 episode of his show "Watch What Happens Live!". He said at that time, "Today's Jackhole goes to the Instagram feud between Kylie Jenner and 'Hunger Games' star/Jaden Smith's prom date Amandla Stenberg, who criticized Kylie for her cornrows, calling it cultural appropriation. White girls in cornrows ... is it OK or nay?"
Cohen is not the only one starring on the show who was slammed by fans. Laverne Cox, who was one of the show's guests that night, posted a long message on Tumblr after being called out for not defending Stenberg during the episode. The posting explained her stance on cultural appropriation.
Cox said when being asked about the online feud, she tried not to get involved, adding, "In that moment, I also felt that the topic of cultural appropriation needs way more than the 10 seconds or less I had to respond at the end of the show to fully unpack."
She continued elaborating on her thought about cultural appropriation in American culture before concluding, "I am writing this in the hopes of continuing a dialogue about this issue in a loving, empathetic way that is not about individual attacks but about individual accountability."
