Actress Eva Longoria apologized for downplaying the role black women had in helping presumptive President-elect Joe Biden’s apparent election victory.
“The women of color showed up in a big way,” Longoria said during an appearance on MSNBC. “Of course, you saw in Georgia what black women have done, but Latina women were the real heroines here. Beating men in turnout in every state and voting for Biden/Harris at an average rate of close to 3 to 1.”
Eva Longoria to @AriMelber on the impact of Latina women: “That spirit and perseverance that Latinas use in their daily life, the struggle to pay their bills and the struggle to show up to their jobs … that’s the same perseverance and spirit they used to show up to the polls,” pic.twitter.com/BiATbXbaeG
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 9, 2020
The Desperate Housewives actress faced quick backlash for ignoring the effect black women had on the election results.
“Eva Longoria can try to downplay the significance of black women securing the presidency for Democrats all she wants, but she hasn’t been relevant since Desperate Housewives,” said Vogue’s Kinsey Clarke on Twitter. “Let’s not look to her for any political insight or analysis.”
“I am never surprised at the casual frequency of which non-black Latinas can and do throw black women under the bus or try to diminish our impact,” Clarke continued. “Pay that woman dust and let’s keep it moving.”
Longoria quickly took to Twitter to clarify her remarks.
“I’m so sorry and sad to hear that my comments on MSNBC could be perceived as taking credit from Black women,” Longoria said. “When I said that Latinas were heroines in this election, I simply meant that they turned out in greater numbers and voted more progressively than LATINO MEN.”
“My wording was not clear and I deeply regret that, there is such a history in our community of anti-Blackness and I would never want to contribute to that,” she continued.
Longoria went on to give black women credit for Biden’s apparent victory.
“Black women have long been the backbone of the Democratic Party, something we have seen played out in this election as well as previous ones,” Longoria said. “Black women absolutely should be applauded and lifted up! They brought this victory home in a BIG way!”
Please read ?????? pic.twitter.com/KO80U2yarD
— Eva Longoria Baston (@EvaLongoria) November 9, 2020
