Ellen DeGeneres Defends Sitting Next To George W. Bush

What started out as a harmless photo of a talk show host and a former president of the United States quickly turned into social media chaos. On Sunday, a photo of Ellen DeGeneres and former president George W. Bush at a Dallas Cowboys football game immediately went viral. The two of them smiling and enjoying each other's company was apparently far too much for Twitter, which immediately erupted in anger to the confusing friendship of two individuals who have never politically agreed on anything.

In response to the outrage, DeGeneres directly referenced the incident on her own talk show monologue to defend her friendship with the former president. Below are reactions of those who criticized Ellen DeGeneres ,and those who found the image to be a symbol of unity and friendship in the current United States political climate.

 

Yes, that was me at the Cowboys game with George W. Bush over the weekend. Here’s the whole story. pic.twitter.com/AYiwY5gTIS

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 8, 2019

 

First there were those who felt uncomfortable upon viewing the image.

 

is it so bad that ellen and george bush are friends? is it so terrible, in these polarising times, to cross the aisle in the spirit of friendship and shared humanity and crack jokes with a guy responsible for the deaths of between 500,000 and 1,000,000 iraqis?

— thomas violence (@thomas_violence) October 8, 2019

 

Ellen out here letting bush drive her ultima while telling the timeline “y’all don’t know him like i do damn”

— Desus Nice (@desusnice) October 8, 2019

 

 

Ellen DeGeneres laughing it up with someone who has actively tried to harm our community feels disappointing, irresponsible, and dangerous. https://t.co/tgGfmCGQ5A

— Out Magazine (@outmagazine) October 7, 2019

 

This Ellen/Bush story isn’t about “disagreement.” We all have friends who see the world differently. George W. Bush fought against marriage equality, put us into unjust wars, and destabilized whole countries. To frame this as a “difference of opinion” is dishonest.

— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) October 8, 2019

 

listen up wokesters: say what you will about ellen, but i’ve had ENOUGH of this cancel culture that goes after decent men like george w. bush just because they launched an illegal war, drowned a city, and brought the world to the brink of a second great depression.

— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) October 8, 2019

 

However, many users did step in to applaud DeGeneres.

 

George W. Bush cracking jokes with Ellen at the #GBvsDAL game is the best thing to happen this year pic.twitter.com/lv0zziy8MD

— Nathan Lotze (@PrinceOfFresh) October 6, 2019

 

 

Liberals have literally rehabilitated George Bush from the war criminal that killed over one million Iraqis based on lies, to the man that passes Michelle Obama candy, and hangs out with Ellen DeGeneres on weekends.

— Kevin Thee Donkey 🌹 (@swallowit_) October 8, 2019

 

 

 

Notice no one on the right, no Evangelical Christian leader, is mad at George W. Bush for being friends with Ellen because she's gay. 🤷‍♂️

— Chad Felix Greene (@chadfelixg) October 8, 2019

 
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