TikTok Star Bella Poarch Responds After Backlash Over 'Racist' Facebook Post

KEY POINTS

Bella Poarch said her friend is "Samoan and not Black"
She said her friend is "very heartbroken" over the incident
She previously faced criticism over a tattoo, that resembled the Japanese "Rising Sun" symbol

TikTok star Bella Poarch, who has been facing allegations of racism over a Facebook Post, has finally responded to the criticism.

Poarch faced backlash after she referred to a friend as "Harambe" in one of her Facebook posts. Poarch took to TikTok on Wednesday to respond to the allegation.

"I'm sorry that you believed rumors about me and my best friend Albert. He's Samoan and not Black, and that's his military nickname because he's big and always very protective. That was his name before I even met him," she wrote.

"Please stop spreading lies. He's very heartbroken and sad about this. We've been friends now for three years and for people to tell me I was treating him wrong… breaks my heart, too. I'm sorry," she added.

Bella Poarch ADDRESSES BACKLASH. Bella was called out for Facebook post where she called a black friend “Harambe”, and for having tattoo that is offensive to Koreans. Bella addressed in past—in thread.

Senior Outrage Correspondent Malice Jon says “WHAT?”

What are your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/IrzmRpImUb
— Def Noodles (@defnoodles) September 16, 2020

The TikToker had previously faced criticism over a tattoo, which resembled the "Rising Sun" symbol on Japan's war flag during WWII.

She issued an apology after that saying, "I apologize to Koreans, because six months ago I got a tattoo of the red sun with 16 rays. At that time, I didn’t know the history, but when I found out, I immediately scheduled it for removal."

"I live in Hawaii and I see a lot of people using the red rising sun symbol in clothing, cars and jewelry. Please educate yourselves and learn more about it because it came from a terrible history. It is very offensive to a lot of people. Please learn from my mistake," she tweeted.

Her apology received favorable responses from social media users.

"Don't be sorry for being ignorant! We're humans, we're bound to make mistakes. For you to apologize about your tattoo and covered it for the sake of those K-Netz attacking you, you've already done your part," one person tweeted.

"I admire you for being the bigger person despite being bashed by some koreans just simply because you have the rising sun tattoo," another person wrote.

Poarch rose to fame recently after a TikTok video of her lipsyncing to Millie B’s "M to the B" went viral on the app.