Tiffany Haddish has responded to criticism over her TikTok video of a supermarket visit in Zimbabwe, aiming to challenge misconceptions that Africa is constantly at war. The American comedian faced backlash from some Zimbabweans on social media after posting the video of herself exploring a supermarket in Harare.
In the video, Haddish marvels at the store’s size, saying, “Look at this grocery store. It’s humungous, in Africa,” as she showcases rows of shelves stocked with soft drinks, frozen meat, and fresh fruit. The video has garnered over 200,000 views on TikTok.
Critics accused Haddish of ignorance, with one user on X saying, “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.” Another commented, “They think we’re chasing lions and zebras,” while a third highlighted the misguided perception that Africans live in primitive conditions without modern amenities.
Haddish responded on X, explaining that she had been taught 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 wrote. She added that she was told “crazy stories” about constant violence and war in Africa.
However, Haddish said her visit to Zimbabwe has been eye-opening, allowing her to discover the truth about the continent. “I thought I would share because I know people in the USA that believe Africans don’t have anything,” she wrote.
Some defended Haddish, with one supporter saying, “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, where she praised long-time ruler Isaias Afwerki, despite criticisms of his authoritarian rule.