Bette Midler has apologised after facing backlash for mocking US first lady Melania Trump's accent on social media. The 74-year-old singer and actress sparked outrage across the political spectrum with a series of tweets during Melania's speech at the Republican National Convention on 25 August.
In one tweet, Midler wrote: 'Oh, God. She still can't speak English.' She also called Melania an 'illegal alien' and said she 'can speak several words in a few languages'. The comments were widely condemned as xenophobic, with critics pointing out that Melania moved to the US legally in 1996 and became a citizen in 2006.
Midler later apologised on Twitter, saying: 'I was wrong to make fun of her accent. America is made up of people who speak with all kinds of accents, and they are all welcomed always.' The apology came after many social media users criticised her, with one writing: 'This is beyond gross... You have become what you think you are resisting.'
Melania Trump's speech from the White House Rose Garden focused on supporting her husband's re-election campaign. The incident has reignited debates about xenophobia and respect for immigrants in public discourse.
