Tiffany Haddish Responds to Criticism Over Zimbabwe Video
American comedian Tiffany Haddish has responded to backlash regarding her recent TikTok video filmed in a Zimbabwean supermarket. Haddish aimed to counteract stereotypes that Africa is constantly engulfed in conflict.
In the video, Haddish can be seen exploring a supermarket in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, marveling at the abundance of products. “Look at this grocery store. It’s humongous, in Africa,” she exclaims, showing rows of beverages, frozen meats, and fresh fruits. The video has garnered just over 200,000 views on TikTok.
However, some Zimbabweans took offense to her comments. One user on X (formerly known as Twitter) criticized her, asking, “How ignorant could she be? Did she think that Africans shop from rocks? She needs to travel more and unclog her sadly colonized view of the world. Yikes.” Another remarked, “They think we’re chasing lions and zebras.” A third person highlighted the widespread misconception that Africans live in primitive conditions without modern amenities.
Haddish addressed the criticism on X, explaining that she had grown up with a false narrative about Africa. “I am an American, a Black one at that, and told for years that people are starving in Africa, showed pictures of babies with flies on them,” she shared. She added that she had been told “crazy stories” about constant violence and war in Africa.
Haddish emphasized that her trip to Zimbabwe has been eye-opening, helping her discover the reality of life on the continent. “I thought I would share because I know people in the USA that believe Africans don’t have anything,” she wrote.
Despite the backlash, some have come to her defense. One supporter commented, “We like that you like our grocery store and all the products that shocked you are just basics here as well. We really aren’t in the forest hanging on trees.”
Haddish, who is half-Eritrean, first visited Eritrea in 2018 and has previously praised the country’s long-time ruler, Isaias Afwerki, despite criticisms labeling him a dictator.
