Actress Lili Reinhart took to Twitter to apologize for an Instagram post about Breonna Taylor's murder that left many people offended.
Reinhart tweeted an apology on Monday for the since-deleted Instagram post, which she called "a mistake."
I’ve tried very hard to be honest on my IGTV lives that I’m still learning and trying to be better. But I understa… https://t.co/KdyJsvLu1l— Lili Reinhart (@Lili Reinhart) 1593475110.0
The apology comes after Reinhart, who stars on the CW series Riverdale, posted a photo of herself on Instagram in which she appeared to be nude, with the following caption:
"Now that my sideboob has gotten your attention, Breonna Taylor's murderers have not been arrested. Demand justice."
Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old EMT from Louisville, Kentucky, who was killed in her bed by police who burst into her home in the middle of the night while executing a drug warrant at what turned out to be the wrong address. They shot and killed Taylor, but have yet to be arrested or charged.
Calls for justice for Taylor have become ubiquitous on social media during the protests in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Lately, many of those calls have taken a turn similar to Reinhart's: posts that call attention to Taylor's murder with the use of irony, mockery, or a sort of jokey bait-and-switch.
But many on the internet have spoken out to call these sorts of posts offensive and distasteful.
Breonna Taylor is not a meme, and neither is her death. She is a Black woman with a life and a story and a personal… https://t.co/2ofnBxa2Zk— Beyoncé✨ (@Beyoncé✨) 1592871955.0
And Reinhart's immediately sparked similar anger from many people online.
lili reinhart really thought she was doing something. this is DISGUSTING. stop using breonna taylors name as a capt… https://t.co/lRzyq6neZp— Ashley | ʙʟᴍ (@Ashley | ʙʟᴍ) 1593403352.0
In her apology, Reinhart acknowledged that she had misstepped.
"I also can admit when I make a mistake and I made a mistake with my caption. It was never my intent to insult anyone and I'm truly sorry to those that were offended."
And she called her caption "tone deaf."
"...I understand that my caption came off as tone deaf. I truly had good intentions and did not think it through that it could come off as insensitive."
Many people appreciated Reinhart's apology.
@lilireinhart it's wonderful to see someone apologize for their mistakes, i think that's why I like you. we're all… https://t.co/bFHgGx4HS0— leticia (@leticia) 1593476886.0
@lilireinhart thank you for addressing this— cole’s bitch (@cole’s bitch) 1593475547.0
@lilireinhart we are all learning every day and people have to realize that lili is a human being who can make mist… https://t.co/2AyPawfqtB— 🌷 Beatriz Formiga 🌻 (@🌷 Beatriz Formiga 🌻) 1593476250.0
@lilireinhart thank u for acknowledging this, i didnt know if u were going to im so happy u did— princess ciara stan (@princess ciara stan) 1593475152.0
@lilireinhart you are doing the best you can for this movement this is really good so whatever your mistake was, ev… https://t.co/UR7zJqbS1L— irilene - sweet babie (@irilene - sweet babie) 1593475311.0
But others were not impressed.
Keep the apology Pooh https://t.co/sqPwBVYpCn— I HATE IT HERE ‼️ (@I HATE IT HERE ‼️) 1593624699.0
denormalize putting yourself on a pedestal at the beginning of apologies https://t.co/vI9loYFR7I— logan (@logan) 1593475932.0
Whole others thought she didn't need to apologize at all.
@lilireinhart boobs definitely attracted over five million people now that's a lot of people and with that caption… https://t.co/gJeuKmoyZM— Elijah (@Elijah) 1593476144.0
@lilireinhart I literally don’t see what you’ve done wrong 🤷♀️— Rafaela (@Rafaela) 1593475737.0
Some pointed out the importance of Black voices in debates like these.
As a black person I was disappointed but I am glad she apologized and realized what she did wrong but if you aren't… https://t.co/NP8U744yQL— Jayla (@Jayla) 1593476204.0
people who aren’t black really be accepting the apology...not your apology to accept now go away https://t.co/qMxTZqjXrm— ً (@ً) 1593475289.0
really really glad she spoke about this but remember as white people is not our place to accept the apology https://t.co/H1S2Rmy6zz— cole’s whore (@cole’s whore) 1593475236.0