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Model and rapper Amber Rose has backed the false claims circulated by former President Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance that Haitian immigrants are eating the pets in Springfield, Ohio.
During a TMZ interview published on September 19, Rose, who endorsed Trump earlier this year, was asked about the debunked comments. "Haitian immigrants are absolutely eating people's cats and dogs in Springfield," Rose stated. When challenged by the TMZ interviewer, who cited local officials saying the claims were false, the TV personality doubled down, adding that she had seen social media videos corroborating the allegations. "I've seen videos online where people claim their pets were taken by Haitian immigrants," Rose said, insisting that this confirmed Trump's narrative.
In recent weeks, the former president and the Ohio senator have been repeatedly recirculating the claims despite the lack of evidence. Both politicians have faced accusations of racism for their remarks.
City officials in Springfield have repeatedly denied the claims. According to local authorities, there is no record or credible evidence that any incidents of pet consumption by Haitian immigrants have occurred. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources also debunked viral images showing a man with geese, noting they were unrelated to the conspiracy theory.
However, Rose defended Trump and Vance. "Why is it racist if it's true?" she asked during her interview with TMZ. She further argued, "It is a known fact that in Haitian culture, some people do eat cats." While acknowledging that not all Haitians engage in the practice, Rose maintained that it is common enough to validate Trump's claims. "That's part of Haitian culture, right? It's not every Haitian person, but some do."
Newsweek has contacted Rose and the Springfield city manager outside of office hours for comment in relation to Rose's claims.
According to the history blog Rogue Art Historian, some Haitians do sacrifice animals in religious ceremonies, in an "offering that maintains the balance between the human and spiritual realms," but these animals are chickens, goats and pigs, with no mention of cats or dogs.
"Using 'sacrifice' for food in Vodou rituals is misleading," Grete Viddal, an independent ethnologist specializing in Caribbean Vodou culture, told German broadcaster DW. It often "involves consuming locally sourced animals prepared to religious standards," she said.
Responding to Rose's claims, University College London Professor Matthew Smith told Newsweek that "her comments are not only dangerously misinformed," they also "repeat one of the most racist stereotypes attached to Haitians."
He explained how ever since Haiti defeated its French colonizers in 1804 and created the first independent Black republic, there has been "a proven conspiracy to portray Haitians as barbaric and diseased." In the U.S. he added that "this led to vile stereotypes of Haitians as less than human."
Smith added, "I can't believe I have to say this in 2024--Haitians are humans and consume, love, think, laugh, feel, and behave like humans."
He said that question we should be asking ourselves is: "Why with over 200 years of close contact between Haiti and the United States... this offensive and prejudicial story is now being peddled with such ferocity?"
He concluded, "It is a low point and well-thinking people need to be outraged by it."
The claims have prompted Springfield to start a webpage answering questions in relation to the "influx of legal immigrants," in the city.
The questions include, "Are Haitian refugees killing geese in parks for food?" The response on the website debunks the claim, saying there is "no evidence" of such claims.
According to PolitiFact, a post shared on Facebook, which seems to have now been deleted, said that "ducks and pets are disappearing" in Springfield, which also shared a photo of a Black man walking down the street holding what looked like a dead goose.
The fact-checking website also said that a city spokesperson informed them no credible reports had been made of such a thing occurring.
Rose declared her support for Trump in May, at the Republican National Convention, despite formerly being a critic of the Republican GOP candidate.
In her speech, she said she realized Trump and his supporters were her "people" because they "love" all people "whether you're Black, white, gay or straight."
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About the writer
Jasmine Laws is a US News Reporter at Newsweek based in London, U.K. Her focus is reporting on health insurance, ... Read more