American comedian Tiffany Haddish has defended her controversial TikTok video showcasing a supermarket in Harare, Zimbabwe, claiming her intention was to challenge the stereotype that Africa is plagued by constant war.
Haddish received criticism from some Zimbabweans on social media after she posted a video of herself walking through a large supermarket in the capital city.
In the video, she expressed amazement at the store’s size and its well-stocked shelves filled with soft drinks, frozen meat, and fresh fruit.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) criticized Haddish, accusing her of ignorance and suggesting she believes Africans shop from rocks.
Another user commented on the misguided perception many Americans have about Africa, thinking its inhabitants live in primitive conditions without modern amenities.
In response to the backlash, Haddish explained on X that she had been misinformed about Africa throughout her life.
She described being shown images of starving children and hearing stories about violence and daily warfare in Africa.
Haddish mentioned that her visit to Zimbabwe had been eye-opening, helping her to learn the truth about the continent.
She shared her experience to inform Americans who might share the same misconceptions.
While some criticized her, others defended Haddish, appreciating her interest in their grocery stores and affirming that the products she found surprising are commonplace.
Haddish, who is half-Eritrean, first visited Eritrea in 2018 and praised its long-time ruler Isaias Afwerki, despite him being labeled a dictator by critics.
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