Tiffany Haddish has found herself at the center of controversy yet again. The actress’s latest foray into scandal follows her recent TikTok video documenting a visit to a supermarket in Zimbabwe.
In the TikTok post, Haddish, 44, expressed surprise at the presence of a large, well-stocked grocery store in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital. “Look at this grocery store. It’s humungous, in Africa,” she remarked, scanning the aisles filled with soft drinks, frozen meats, and fresh produce.
The Internet’s Response
The video quickly drew backlash from viewers who found Haddish’s comments ignorant and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about African countries.
I'm too confused on whether to laugh or feel sorry for her. It would be good to get @TiffanyHaddish to explain why she was surprised in seeing a grocery store in our beloved country? It's not like we get our food through scavenging or hunting & gathering.
— Dr² Hillary Musarurwa, PhD (@HillaryMusarurw) July 28, 2024
One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “I’m too confused on whether to laugh or feel sorry for her. It would be good to get @TiffanyHaddish to explain why she was surprised in seeing a grocery store in our beloved country? It’s not like we get our food through scavenging or hunting and gathering.”
Another wrote, “Did she just say, ‘They got a grocery store?’ Where did she think we got groceries? Straight from the farms?”
Did she just say “they got a grocery store” where did she think we get grocery ? Straight from the farms
— footballer at heart.™️ (@RomeoZakhele) July 28, 2024
Critics argued that Haddish’s remarks reflected a broader misunderstanding of modern African life. Some accused her of promoting a misguided perception of Africa, believing that its inhabitants live in primitive conditions.
Tiffany Haddish’s Statement On Her Remarks About Zimbabwe Grocery Store
BBC reports that in response to the criticism, Haddish defended her intentions. She stated that the video aimed to dispel misconceptions about Africa. She explained in a now-deleted tweet, “I am an American, a Black one at that, and [was] told for years that people are starving in Africa, showed pictures of babies with flies on them.”
The comedian further elaborated that she had been told “crazy stories” about constant warfare in Africa and that her trip to Zimbabwe had opened her eyes to the truth. “I thought I would share cause I know people in the USA that believe Africans don’t have anything,” Haddish wrote.
This incident has reignited discussions about the importance of cultural awareness. It has also highlighted the responsibility of public figures to educate themselves before making broad statements about other countries and cultures. Some commentators have pointed out that Haddish, despite her Eritrean heritage, displayed a lack of knowledge about the diversity and development across the African continent.
