Firestorm After Bette Midler Tweets 'Women Are N Word of the World'

Bette Midler, trying to make a point about the scourge of misogyny, published a series of offensive tweets that were dismissive of the African-American struggle.

"'Women, are the n-word of the world,'" Midler wrote in a now-deleted Thursday night tweet that was screen-shot by USA Today.

"Raped, beaten, enslaved, married off, worked like dumb animals; denied education and inheritance; enduring the pain and danger of childbirth and life IN SILENCE for THOUSANDS of years They are the most disrespected creatures on earth."

The first line of Midler's tweet quotes a 1972 song by Yoko Ono and John Lennon (Ono used the phrase in an interview prior to the song's release). After extreme backlash to the phrasing and sentiment, Midler offered an explanation; one that only enflamed the situation.

"I gather I have offended many by my last tweet. 'Women are the...etc' is a quote from Yoko Ono from 1972, which I never forgot. It rang true then, and it rings true today, whether you like it or not. This is not about race, this is about the status of women; THEIR HISTORY."

Midler then deleted that tweet and offered up a more thoughtful response, relating it to Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Many remain unhappy with Midler and want to see her follow up her apology with action.