Zimbabweans react to Ellen DeGeneres being allowed in the country after Somizi’s ban

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Social media users in Zimbabwe criticized their government for welcoming the United States talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Ross into their country after reportedly banning South African media personality Somizi Mhlongo because of his s.e.xual orientation in 2021.

DeGeneres announced on her Instagram account on Friday that she and her wife went on a safari in Zimbabwe, after recently traveling to Rwanda.
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Zimbabwe Christian Community blocked Somizi from coming to Zimbabwe because of his sexual orientation. Why didn't they do the same for Ellen? pic.twitter.com/iLZg8DVaqj

— Dirty Tino? (@dirtytino) June 11, 2022

Zimbabweans questioned why their government allowed Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Ross to visit their country when Somizi Mhlongo reportedly got blocked last year for his sexual orientation.

Some revealed that DeGeneres was allowed to visit because of her race and others said she was allowed to visit because she’s richer than Mhlongo and wasn’t loud about her visit.

Mhlongo made headlines in November 2021 after he reportedly got banned by the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) who wrote to the president’s office and other ministries, including tourism and foreign affairs, saying:

“Somizi is a homosexual, hence according to our people-driven constitution, Zimbabwe doesn’t tolerate homosexuality,” according to a local publication.

Market , Ellen coming means they’s a lot of money coming in .

— See Ya ✌??️ (@tanaka__bn) June 12, 2022

They shouldn't even ban anyone coz tinawo ma gay muno akawandisa

— BigBabyKutidzayi ?‍? (@mazowepapi) June 12, 2022

The same organisations (Zanu and that Mapostori Church) who made noise then should have made noise. I don't care about people's sexuality or how they choose to live their lives but I'm against double standards.

— Tapiwa Munjoma (@TapiwaMunjoma) June 11, 2022

Cos they white pic.twitter.com/I0dIfjhMPn

— Braxo (@MakhakheMakoko) June 12, 2022

@TetsSk: “Such a contradiction. That’s very interesting. Maybe Ellen is an exception because she’s white and carries with her a lot of American dollars in her purse.”

@rodyjosh: “She came in quietly and didn’t even announce it! Somizi should have done the same.”

@Mrs_CallMeK: “Fact is ellen was welcome but Somizi isn’t. Why was the church group suddenly concerned when Somizi is coming but wasn’t when Ellen was coming.” “It’s hypocritical don’t you think?”

@W3Zhira: “Point being Somizi and Ellen are not the only non-straight people to have been in Zim.” “There are a lot of gays in Zim whose rights are prescribed by the constitution of the same country you claim denied Somizi entry.”