In a wild series of events, Black Twitter first roasted Tim Allen for not knowing how to play the card game Spades and then dragged him for his history of racism.
In a clip that has since gone viral, blogger Xilla Valentine tested both Tom Hanks’ and Allen’s knowledge of Black culture in an interview. The two actors were promoting their upcoming Pixar movie, Toy Story 4.
“I feel like you both have ‘Black cards,’” Valentine said in the interview.
Tom Hanks is so cool I tested his knowledge of black culture. pic.twitter.com/aGrJdD1Qjh
— Junius Valentine (@juniusvalentine) June 11, 2019
Valentine then asked a question about Spades. Hanks answered perfectly and even added an anecdote about his time playing Bid Whist in Oakland, California–proving that he indeed has a “Black card.”
Allen, on the other hand, was confused and seemed uncomfortable.
“I don’t know what you guys are talking about,” Allen said. “I don’t have any idea what you guys just said.”
Allen remained deadpan for the rest of the interview, and when Hanks asked him if he knew how to play Spades, Allen responded, “I’m gonna say I do just ‘cause I want to move on.”
After Valentine posted the clip from the interview to the internet, Black Twitter was sent into a frenzy–and not necessarily because Allen doesn’t know how to play spades. Instead, they used the opportunity to remind people that Allen has a history of racism.
https://twitter.com/crissles/status/1138587706949283844
https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/1138768805633712128
https://twitter.com/scottEweinberg/status/1138698610252701696
Conservative Twitter jumped in to defend Allen.
The only reason Tim Allen is being targeted as a racist is because he's a successful white conservative male in Hollywood. It's as simple as that.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) June 12, 2019
Tim Allen is trending right now because he doesn't know how to play the card game spades, which apparently means he is racist. My Lord, these are stupid times.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 12, 2019
Tim Allen isn't racist… but nice try people who hate the fact that he's successful and conservative.
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) June 12, 2019
Allen’s mugshot from the ’70s, when he was arrested for cocaine possession, even made rounds on Twitter.
Since Tim Allen is trending, I’ll just share this pic of him getting arrested at an airport for possession 650 grams of cocaine.
— Doubting Derek (@DoubtingDerek) June 12, 2019
Yes, Buzz Lightyear was a drug mule back in the late 70’s. pic.twitter.com/YBC1loiC4d
https://twitter.com/its_lindz/status/1138590024562167808
People also attacked Valentine for simply handing out “Black cards” to random, middle-aged white men.
"You both have Black cards" Since when?
— Carolyn Hinds 🇧🇧 #FreePalestine #CongoInCrisis (@CarrieCnh12) June 12, 2019
Black people really need to stop handing out Blcka cards and bbq invites to every white person who smiles at us. Tim Allen is hella racist. https://t.co/lUwhSn7xoY
All of this because Tim Allen doesn’t know how to play Spades.
Twitter, get some sleep.
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H/T the Wrap