Muhammad Ali Instagram
After news broke of boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s death June 3, reports stated the three-time heavyweight title winner “transcended race,” while former CNN host Piers Morgan tweeted the following two days after Ali’s death.
Muhammad Ali said far more inflammatory/racist things about white people than Donald Trump ever has about Muslims. #fact
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 5, 2016
Twitter wasn’t having any of it.
After Morgan declared his statement as fact, the post earned nearly 4,000 retweets and more than 4,500 likes. But many users did not agree with his claim.
One user pointed out Ali was pro-Black but did not want white people exported from America.
@piersmorgan but he didn't hate white or wanted them removed from his country #fact
— Jesse Vision (@Jessien23) June 5, 2016
Another blamed Morgan’s tweet on his ignorance.
@piersmorgan is clueless. Has no comprehension of black history. Unbelievable ignorance.
— Steve Brookstein (@stevebrookstein) June 5, 2016
Chris Brown added his two cents to the controversy in a lengthy Instagram comment.
“Irrelevant BROADCASTING!!!!! IS ALI RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT????? I CANT WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO WAKE THE F— UP.. What do I know??? I’m just a ‘BAD BOY R&B’ singer. WE HAVE NO LEADERS OR EVEN ANYONE WITH A BACKBONE TO HELP! ITS ABOUT A HANDFUL OF BLACKS THEY USE AS PUPPETS TODAY. YALL KNOW WHO THEY ARE! SPEAK LOGICALLY AND FROM THE HEART AS WELL OR JUST SHUT THE F— UP!!!!”
Morgan later posted a tweet apologizing for his statement. But it’s not the first time the Newick, United Kingdom native has drawn the ire of Twitter for his ignorant remarks on Black celebrities. He also faced criticism after claiming Beyoncé’s political statements in “Formation” were not genuine.
I'm sorry for 'saying inflammatory things for attention'.
That's the last thing Muhammad Ali would have condoned.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 5, 2016
Ali’s political stance for Black liberation is well known, but when he died after a hospitalization, many news outlets relied on the narrative that the boxer “transcends race.” According to History, Ali – born Cassius Clay, Jr. – was named after a white abolitionist and changed his name because of his religion and Blackness.
When you saw #Ali you didn't see color you didn't see religion you saw a gentle man who was a strong fighter,a Champion you could believe in
— Chris Myers (@The_ChrisMyers) June 4, 2016
One user challenged broadcaster Chris Myers’ claim that people saw Ali as colorless because of his athletic achievements.
How can you ignore this when Muhammad Ali CHANGED HIS NAME bc of his blackness and religion @The_ChrisMyers pic.twitter.com/b5km8LYI7i
— Master Tesfatsion (@MasterTes) June 4, 2016
NBC News released a similar report describing Ali as a man who “transcended borders and barriers, race and religion.”
Broderick Greer boldly called out the publication for subtly “erasing his Blackness.”
Saying Ali "transcended…race" is a subtle way of erasing his blackness. https://t.co/dYX7m5dskR pic.twitter.com/ujBokP73oi
— Broderick Greer (@BroderickGreer) June 4, 2016
Another user wrote the late Olympic gold medalist would have been “absolutely shocked to learn he ‘transcended’ race.” Ali wrote in his 1975 autobiography that he tossed the light heavyweight gold medal he won at the 1960 Summer Olympics into the Ohio River to protest the racism he encountered at home in Louisville.
Muhammad Ali, who gave up his title protesting against mistreatment of blk ppl, would be absolutely SHOCKED to learn he "transcended" race.
— Khal Draghoe (@brownandbella) June 4, 2016
