Conservative TV Viewers Outraged Over ‘black-ish’ Again — This Time Over ‘Anti-Trump’ Episode

A new promo for an upcoming episode of ABC’s hit sitcom “black-ish” has caused anger among some NFL fans. As football aficionados settled into their sofas Saturday, Jan. 7 to take in the Oakland Raiders vs. Houston Texans wild-card game on ESPN, they were outraged over a post-election TV spot for the comedy airing on its sister channel.

The new “black-ish” episode debuting Wednesday, Jan. 11 is called “Lemons” and it deals with the post-election tumult that erupts in the Johnson household. In the clip above, main character and father of four Andre Johnson is seen with his co-workers expressing disappointment in a white co-worker who voted for President-elect Donald Trump.

“I voted for Trump,” the white colleague says as Wanda Sykes’ character, Daphne Lido, recoils.

“I’m a racist?” the woman continues, with Dre imploring her not to use the following excuse. “I have Black friends!” she says. Meanwhile, the boardroom shouts in dismay.

In reaction to the scene in the promo, pro-Trump Twitter users shared their furor.

NevadaTeaParty encouraged its followers to boycott the series and make their thoughts about it known.

Bob Koss accused ABC of attempting to grow its audience by airing “Lemons.”

Matt Falk defended Trump voters by saying not all of them subscribe to racist views.

https://twitter.com/therealmjf1/status/817853291560370176

WovesandSheep questioned why ESPN continued to play what he deemed an “anti-Trump commercial.”

https://twitter.com/mikechilden/status/817895631721234432

Darrel tagged ABC in his tweet to let them know how disturbed he was by the Black family comedy and demanded it halts the insults against white people.

https://twitter.com/DarrelGOP/status/818461447869042688

This is just the latest criticism of “black-ish” unleashed by conservative Twitter users. Most recently, the show’s Halloween episode where Dre declined to use an elevator with a white child on it launched a tirade of messages accusing it of degrading white people.

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Back to top