Rachel Griffiths apologises over ‘shallow’ post about getting a manicure ‘as America is burning’

Rachel Griffiths has been forced to apologise for sharing an Instagram post about getting a manicure amid the outcry over George Floyd’s death in the U.S.

The actress, 51, posted a picture of her hand while at a nail salon and wrote that the violent street protests in America were ‘easier on the soul to watch’ with ‘beautiful nails’.

Fans were quick to brand the post as tone-deaf, especially given that it coincided with Tuesday’s viral social media campaign, #blackouttuesday.  

‘Shallow I know … America is burning people are dying … but still it just seems easier on the soul to watch all this happening with beautiful nails,’ Rachel wrote in the controversial post.  

‘And judging by the line of desperate ladies I am not alone. Shallow people we are but I need to share this important covid update. The manicurists are open!!! Tip generously as they had had not (sic) income since covid lockdown,’ she continued. 

Rachel has since deleted the post, but that didn’t stop people from attacking her elsewhere online. 

On Twitter, one user uploaded a screengrab of Rachel’s post, branding her actions as an absolutely disgusting display’, while another called Rachel’s actions ‘shamelessly pathetic’.  

Rachel apologised for her comments later that day, uploading a video to Instagram featuring Stan Grant – a current affairs journalist of Indigenous Australian background. 

‘The last few days have been wrenching,’ she began her caption.  

‘My post early today leant away from that pain but I understand in doing so it pained others who can’t look away from what’s happening — can’t turn off and check out because it is their lives — their brothers their sisters their children.’ 

The Ride Like A Girl director went on to claim she didn’t ‘intend to trivialise’ what was going on, but rather ‘just escape it’.     

‘I am sorry . I am sorry that I got this so wrong today. I am sorry that I abdicated any meaningful sense making of what is happening this week and has been happening for centuries,’ she added, thanking those who have ‘called her out’.  

‘I have along way to go to truly understand my white b**ch privilege,’ she admitted.  

This post was met with mixed response from Rachel’s fans, some of who believed her apology was simply not enough.   

‘Incredibly disappointed that you didn’t feel before pressing ‘post’ that ‘this is…wrong,’ one person commented. 

‘So disappointed in you,’ another outraged follower added.  

However, others praised Rachel for the way she handled the difficult situation.  

‘You are allowed to have a manicure and be genuinely aggrieved as we all are at the same time,’ one person argued.  

Floyd, 46, died after being arrested by four Minneapolis police officers for allegedly using a fake $20 bill. 

He was brought to the ground by white police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes. Footage of the incident was spread online, sparking a wave of protests across the U.S. and worldwide.

Floyd, who was unarmed and handcuffed, repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe. An autopsy later ruled he died of asphyxia.

Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, and the three other officers on the the scene have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

His death has sparked a wave of protests in the U.S.