Amber Rose has recently made headlines for supporting controversial claims made by former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, which allege Haitian immigrants are stealing and consuming pets in Springfield, Ohio. This assertion has generated significant backlash for its racist and xenophobic nature.
During a recent interview with TMZ, Rose, who had previously endorsed Trump, was confronted about these claims, which have been debunked by local officials. Despite the evidence, she stated, "Haitian immigrants are absolutely eating people's cats and dogs in Springfield." When pressed by the interviewer, who cited denials from city officials, she insisted, "I've seen videos online where people claim their pets were taken by Haitian immigrants. That confirms Trump's narrative." Such statements have raised eyebrows across social media and among community leaders.
The accusations have been firmly rejected by Springfield city officials, who have repeatedly stated there are no records or credible evidence of any incidents involving Haitian immigrants eating pets. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has also dismissed viral images related to the conspiracy theory, confirming they had no connection to the claimed events.
Defending Trump and Vance, Rose posed the question, "Why is it racist if it's true?" She went on to assert, "It is a known fact, some people do eat cats as part of Haitian culture," vaguely acknowledging this is not representative of all Haitians.
The conversation surrounding these remarks spirals beyond mere entertainment, touching on deep-rooted issues of race and culture. According to Rogue Art Historian, some Haitians do participate in animal sacrifices during religious ceremonies, primarily involving chickens, goats, and pigs—not pets like cats and dogs. Independent ethnologist Grete Viddal stressed the misleading nature of framing these acts as culinary practices within Vodou rituals.
Critics, including Professor Matthew Smith from University College London, have described Rose's comments as dangerously misinformed and reflective of harmful stereotypes targeting Haitians. He pointed out the historical narrative reinforcing these stereotypes, indicating they stem from centuries of negative portrayals of Haitians, often depicted as barbaric. Smith lamented the need to remind people today, "Haitians are humans and consume, love, think, laugh, feel, and behave like humans." He proposed asking, "Why after 200 years of interaction with Haiti does such offensive discourse continue to gain traction?"
Local officials have taken proactive steps to correct misinformation, launching a webpage on the city's website to address questions concerning the claims about Haitian immigrants. Among the queries presented is whether Haitian refugees are killing geese for food, which the city has definitively refuted, saying there is "no evidence" to support such assertions.
Highlighting the situation’s alarm, since the claims surfaced, Springfield has faced more than 30 bomb threats targeting schools, government buildings, and residences of public officials, illustrating the swell of anxiety sparked by this discourse. Meanwhile, the digital uproar originated from social media, particularly Facebook, where posts suggested pets were mysteriously disappearing, allegedly due to Haitian neighbors.
The original poster of those claims, Erika Lee, expressed frustration with how the situation escalated, telling NBC News, "I didn’t think it would ever get past Springfield." She mentioned her intent only to share her concern, not to incite widespread outrage.
Many celebrities have chimed in on this matter as well. Kodak Black, who has openly supported Trump, found himself embroiled in the controversy. On the flip side, Springfield native John Legend took to Instagram to dispel the malicious rumors and offered solidarity with the Haitian community, which echoes many voices decrying the unsubstantiated claims. He emphasized the importance of uplifting individuals and dispelling falsehoods.
Also responding through social media was Haitian-American actress Garcelle Beauvais, who used her platform to voice objections against the hateful rhetoric, marking the importance of condemning such actions as non-political but rather rooted deeply in human rights and dignity. "This kind of hatred, this kind of racism, it’s about humanity," she declared. She reinforced her pride as a Haitian immigrant, outlining the hard work and gratitude shared by her community.
With this incident shedding light on long-standing prejudices against Haitian immigrants, critics urge society to bear responsibility and challenge the narratives promoted by figures like Trump and Vance. The more significant conversation expands beyond factual accuracy—it's also about the perceptions and treatment of marginalized communities. Indeed, as the statement goes, "words have power," and reckoning with them can spark real change.
