Ava DuVernay may be one of the most celebrated black creatives of our time, but over the weekend, the award-winning director found herself in hot water with some over-passionate Bernie Sanders supporters who took issue with her critiquing their candidate.
What We Know:
- Friday Evening, the Vermont Senator tweeted out, “I’ve got news for the Republican establishment. I’ve got news for the Democratic establishment. They can’t stop us.”
- The next day, Sanders would go on to win the second caucus of the primary season, and the first nominating contest in the West, in Nevada. While this emboldened his die-hard fans and allies, DuVernay wasn’t entirely sold.
https://twitter.com/ava/status/1231290459529588737?s=20
- Author Frederick Joseph wrote in response, “You know how much I admire you, Ava. I have my direction I want you to go, but even if your candidate isn’t Warren, I know whatever decision you make will be in the interest of what you feel is best for yourself and more importantly – our community.”
- The Twitterverse went into a frenzy with numerous Bernie supporters condemning DuVernay over her tweet. Some even going as far as to say that her elite status allows her to take her stance.
https://twitter.com/SankofaBrown/status/1231336463956160518
- “Ava what is it that you want then? A little surprised with your tweet. Since I have always seen you as a progressive woman,” wrote one woman to which the filmmaker responded, “So you’re saying if I disagree with his statement that I’m not a progressive woman? Is that what you’ve just written here?”
https://twitter.com/saintknives/status/1231429029745582080
- One of Bernie’s biggest agenda’s is providing Medicare for all which would allow full health coverage for lower-income workers and some users used that as a tactic against DuVernay’s response.
My father had a heart attack two weeks ago. This is one of the bills. Fuck the establishment, I want a candidate that recognizes health care is a human right. But you’re worth $60 mil so this bill is light change to you. You don’t understand the real struggles out here right now. https://t.co/ADkwqfNWHV pic.twitter.com/PY9XMuwzOv
— messy ventura (@messyventura) February 23, 2020
Eventually, DuVernay caught wind of the commotion and decided to log off the social network but not before posting screenshots of death threats from enraged Bernie supporters. “Bernie supporters terrorizing my mentions while I’m off enjoying my Saturday,” she posted.
