Black Edinburgh Uni student is called 'fit George Floyd' on Tinder
Black law student at Edinburgh University is called ‘fit George Floyd’ by trainee vet who sent racist message after he matched with her on Tinder
- Liv Yeneka, 21, got message after unidentified student ‘super-liked’ her profile
- Trainee vet who messaged her later said ‘I am actually so sorry that’s awful behaviour’ – and blocked her on Tinder
- Fourth-year student Liv said being a BAME student on dating app is ‘exhausting’
A law student was left horrified after receiving a racist message from another student on Tinder – calling her ‘fit George Floyd’.
Liv Yeneka, 21, who studies at the University of Edinburgh, received the message after matching with the fellow student on dating app Tinder when he ‘super-liked’ her profile.
He sent Liv a message saying ‘George Floyd’ followed by ‘fit’ before later sending her an apology, saying: ‘I am actually so sorry that’s awful behaviour.’
But Liv, from Glasgow, hit back saying: ‘Don’t worry. I’m sure the vet department will love to see this. It’s not just awful behaviour, it’s racist behaviour.’
Law student Liv Yeneka (above) was left horrified after receiving a racist message from another student on Tinder – calling her ‘fit George Floyd’. Liv, 21, who studies at the University of Edinburgh, received the message after matching with the fellow student on dating app Tinder, when he ‘super-liked’ her profile
The message exchanges, above. Liv said it’s not the first time she’s seen this type of abuse and believes being a BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) woman on a dating app is ‘exhausting’
The male student, who studies veterinary science, then blocked her on Tinder.
Speaking to student newspaper The Tab, fourth-year student Liv said: ‘It’s pretty horrific. He super-liked me just to match me and tell me my profile was “George Floyd fit”.
‘As if being racist wasn’t already grossly offensive, it’s really twisted referring to a dead black man who deserves respect.
‘He probably thought it was hilarious. As for the apology, I don’t know why he bothered. It reads as it looks – meaningless – with the concern of being caught out.’
Liv said it’s not the first time she’s seen this type of abuse and believes being a BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) woman on a dating app is ‘exhausting’.
The Facebook page Edi BAMEfess regularly posts examples of messages which non-white Edinburgh students receive that are racist and fetishistic.
Liv (pictured) said: ‘As a black woman, I constantly worry about what my matches are thinking. Did they match me because they’ve “never been with a black girl”?’
Liv said: ‘Considering the dating world is predominately online right now, we don’t get the same experience as white people.
‘As a black woman, I constantly worry about what my matches are thinking. Did they match me because they’ve “never been with a black girl”?
‘Could I open Tinder and be stunned with an overtly racist message? Could they be racially abusive in real life and I just don’t know it yet?
‘Although dating through a screen has an element of desensitisation, people forget that BAME people are humans, with their own feelings and sadly for some of us, our own racial trauma. The world has taught us to date with our guard up.’
A University of Edinburgh spokesman said: ‘The University is committed to promoting a positive culture which celebrates difference, challenges prejudice and ensures fairness.
‘Our Code of Student Conduct sets out clear expectations of behaviour.
‘The University regards any incident of discrimination as a serious matter and will respond promptly to formal complaints, and where appropriate take disciplinary action.’
‘I can’t breathe’: The brutal killing of George Floyd
The death of George Floyd (above) on May 25 in Minnesota sparked protests around the world
On May 25, George Floyd, 46, was arrested by a group of officers for allegedly using a fake $20 bill at a deli in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He was pinned to the ground by white police officer Derek Chauvin, who dug his knee into the back of Floyd’s neck for an excruciating eight minutes and 46 minutes in a horrific act caught on camera.
In the video Floyd is heard gasping ‘I can’t breathe’ – words that would be echoed across the globe to decry his violent death.
All the while, cops Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng helped restrain Floyd as Tou Thao stood nearby.
The video sent shockwaves across the country and sparked massive protests denouncing police brutality against black people and demanded justice.
All four officers were fired after the incident.
Chauvin was charged with a new, more serious count of second-degree murder on June 3. He had previously been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Arrested on May 29, Chauvin was the subject of at least 18 prior complaints and only two were ‘closed with discipline’.
On June 3, the three other officers involved were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
On Wednesday June 10 Thomas Lane was released from Hennepin County Jail after posting bail. The bail for him and the other officers was set at $1million unconditional or $750,000 with conditions.
He had been on the police force for four days when Floyd died.
On Friday June 19 J. Alexander Kueng was released on $750,000 bail bond.
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