1 of 2 | Talk show host Wendy Williams gets the crowd fired up during the taping of promotional spots for her upcoming season, while in St. Louis on May 16, 2014. Williams has clarified her recent controversial comments regarding Jesse Williams' speech, the NAACP and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI |
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NEW YORK, July 8 (UPI) -- Wendy Williams has clarified her recent controversial comments regarding actor Jesse Williams' popular BET Awards speech, the NAACP and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
"On yesterday's show, a lot of you all misinterpreted some of the things I was saying regarding black, black schools, being black in the world, being a human being. So I will clarify again then if you misconstrued. I'll be back tomorrow to clarify again," the daytime host said Thursday in an attempt to clear the air.
Originally, Wendy spoke out about a petition circulating online to remove Jesse from Grey's Anatomy following his speech on racism stating that she sees both sides to the story and how pro-black institutions could be offensive to others.
"I would be really offended if there was a school that was known as a historically white college. We have historically Black colleges. What if there was the National Organization for White People only? There's the NAACP," she said Wednesday on The Wendy Williams Show.
After receiving backlash on social media from fans regarding her comments, Wendy sought to further explain what she really meant. "Be very clear, I find nothing wrong with historically black colleges. My father graduated from Lincoln, which is a black college. My brother graduated from Virginia State, but my thought in my mind was, and what I said to you is, 'how would I feel if I was applying to colleges and that they were historically white was part of the marquee?'" Wendy continued on Thursday's show.
"Now, I understand historically black organizations and universities have been around because we as black people were not allowed to go to your schools, drink out of your fountains, ride in the front of the bus, sit at your counter tops. In 2016, racism is still alive and, well, very much so. I have to say in light of the two police shootings in Baton Rouge and Minnesota, stuff is still going on in 2016, I don't know when it will stop."
"The best I can say as a regular woman observing the world like we all are, is it starts in the four walls we call home. If we can teach our children better and educate ourselves more as adults to the multitude of racists around the world as well as religious groups, then we'd all be better as a society," she concluded before denying that was like outspoken actress Stacey Dash whom internet commentators compared her too.
"For the record, no I am not a Stacey Dash and for the record, I am a very mighty, proud Black woman. Hopefully you got what I said and will not screw up my words like you always do, and read me for filth on the worldwide web."
