CNN writer John Blake accused white people of wearing “digital blackface” if they shared memes or gifs featuring black people and expressions in order to “convey comic relief or express emotions.”

Referring to the most popular memes and gifs as “radicalized reactions,” Blake argued that black people “get a pass” for using them — but when white people did so, they had “inadvertently perpetuated one of the most insidious forms of contemporary racism.”

Blake went on to quote a 2017 Teen Vogue article written by Lauren Michele Jackson — in which she argued that people often cherry-picked gifs that featured black people when attempting to express extreme emotions.

“While reaction GIFs can and do every feeling under the sun, white and nonblack users seem to especially prefer GIFs with black people when it comes to emitting their most exaggerated emotions,” Jackson wrote. “Extreme joy, annoyance, anger and occasions for drama and gossip are a magnet for images of black people, especially black femmes.”

Blake went on later in the article to refer to “digital blackface” as a “modern-day repackaging of minstrel shows.”

But when Blake’s article made the rounds on Twitter on Sunday, critics had a field day with the idea.

Radio host Clay Travis tied the concept to the transgender movement, tweeting, “I’d love to hear an explanation of how posting a gif or meme of a black person online is digital blackface, but a man dressing up like a woman in real life is heroic. Please explain @cnn.”

I’d love to hear an explanation of how posting a gif or meme of a black person online is digital blackface, but a man dressing up like a woman in real life is heroic. Please explain @cnn. pic.twitter.com/fPYXF5ogDC

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 26, 2023

The Media Research Center’s Nicholas Fondacaro added, “CNN boss Chris Licht: I want to make CNN a place of reasonable discussions again. CNN: Segregate memes!!!”

CNN boss Chris Licht: I want to make CNN a place of reasonable discussions again.

CNN: Segregate memes!!! https://t.co/pBc4ZRiqU7

— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) March 26, 2023

“CNN is more concerned about digital blackface than they are biological men wearing womanface IRL,” Siraj Hashmi added.

CNN is more concerned about digital blackface than they are biological men wearing womanface IRL https://t.co/XRQGpbcWay

— siraj hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) March 26, 2023

“The modern-day segregationists do everything possible to keep people divided by race, prevent them from having joyful and natural interactions, ban them from appreciating the culture and humor of others, and in general demand that they have as little in common as possible,” independent journalist Glenn Greenwald remarked.

The modern-day segregationists do everything possible to keep people divided by race, prevent them from having joyful and natural interactions, ban them from appreciating the culture and humor of others, and in general demand that they have as little in common as possible: https://t.co/pMXVCAf2Xr

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 26, 2023

“When the demand for racism radically outstrips the supply,” came from Daily Wire editor emeritus Ben Shapiro.

When the demand for racism radically outstrips the supply https://t.co/CnnB3KfDDv

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 26, 2023

Matt Walsh chimed in as well, noting just how many critics had responded to the piece.

“Is this the worst ratio of all time?” he asked.

Is this the worst ratio of all time? pic.twitter.com/aY6Z8q2vGy

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 26, 2023

Former President Donald Trump will reportedly blacklist anyone who works for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as part of an effort to stop the governor from running for president.

The blacklist, which was first reported on by the right-of-center publication RealClearPolitics, will extend to anyone who has worked on tour to promote the governor’s new #1 bestselling book “The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival” or who works on a potential presidential campaign for the governor.

“It’s a time for choosing,” a source close to Trump told the publication. “If you work for Ron DeSantis’ presidential race, you will not work for the Trump campaign or in the Trump White House.”

If Trump were to win the presidency again he would have significant power over the national Republican Party and could try to enforce the same blacklist there.

Trump operatives confirm that Trump is going to blacklist anyone who works for DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/wVXPY0Yite

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 26, 2023

A prominent conservative grassroots organizer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, warned against Trump’s “loyalty test,” saying, “It’s the American people who will ultimately decide who is the next president and many grassroots see through these desperate pleas for allegiance and instead wish there was a substantive debate about the future of our great country.”

The report also cited a former senior administration official who said, “I don’t think, just knowing him, that it’s a serious assertion.”

“This is just being done now to try to kill the momentum that DeSantis has – this doesn’t jive with his past behavior,” the official added.

The news comes after Trump attacked DeSantis during a campaign rally in Texas over the weekend.

A lengthy clip flagged by Mediaite showed the former president’s attacks not landing well with the crowd, who grew mostly silent. “Compared to how Trump’s crowd normally reacts to his bits, the reaction to his mocking DeSantis was practically dead air,” the report said.

Trump attacked DeSantis’ response to the pandemic, said that DeSantis was “not good” on crime, and mocked him with nicknames. Trump’s attacks come as an analysis from Fox News this week found that Trump attacks DeSantis four times more than he attacks President Joe Biden.

“When a man comes to me with tears in his eyes, he’s had almost nothing in the polls,” Trump claimed while referencing DeSantis’ 2018 gubernatorial run. “He’s at almost nothing, he’s got no cash.”

“And I said, I can’t give you an endorsement. There’s no way you can when you’re dead,” Trump claimed. “I said, let’s give it a shot, Ron. I endorsed him. He became like a rocket ship. Within one day the race was over.”

Trump’s guests also attacked DeSantis at the rally, including Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Mike Lindell.

Lindell called DeSantis “Trojan horse Ron DeSantis,” and then said that “the best thing he can do is endorse Donald Trump tomorrow morning.”

Trump attorney Christina Bobb also attacked DeSantis in Waco, saying that “if he actually does try to enter this race, [he] will come out a bloodied pulp.”