After posting a video of herself shopping in Zimbabwe on Sunday, American comedian Tiffany Haddish sent the internet into a tailspin.
Tiffany Haddish recently expressed on social media how surprised she was by the contemporary conveniences she saw while traveling to Zimbabwe.
Last year, the Washington Post reported that the actress is in the process of launching Diaspora Groceries, a grocery store in the Crenshaw neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Haddish has been collecting money for the affordable store’s launch for years, hoping to raise $25 million. Additionally, it is designed to serve the BIPOC community.
In addition to providing wholesome, sustainably produced food, Diaspora Grocery will also teach its patrons financial literacy and cookery skills.
This is why, while Haddish’s intention might not have been to offend, many criticized her surprise, suggesting it perpetuated stereotypes about Africa.
The actress, well-known for her frank and frequently humorous observations on life, said she was especially surprised to see a well-stocked grocery store.
Tiffany Haddish is currently in Harare, where she gave her fans a tour of a store she had visited over the weekend.
“Look at the grocery store. They have a grocery store. It is beautiful,” she said, sharing her excitement at finding strawberries and sugarcane.
Tiffany called the store “humongous,” stating, “”In Africa, baby. Believe it!”
After the video went viral on X, many Africans expressed dissatisfaction and disappointment with Haddish’s comments. Reactions varied from incredulity and rage to demands that the comedian learn more about the continent.
“In 2024, Americans still think Africans eat from the trees and live in caves,” someone commented after resharing the video.
Another added, “Tiffany Haddish, the first woman to discover a grocery store in Africa.”
Another user wrote, “Tiffany Haddish circled a whole Pic n Pay taking video, and not one person recognized her. I have to admit, we have baddies who look better than she did. She called it a grocery store, and she was shocked kuti we got the same stuff they have in America in our “grocery store.”
The damage seems to be done despite some fans standing up for Haddish and claiming that the video may have been taken out of context.
The incident has also sparked a wider discussion about how crucial it is for Africa to be accurately portrayed in popular culture and the media.
