Figure skater Mirai Nigasu became the first American woman (and the third women ever) to land a triple-axel during Olympic competition on Sunday night.
Spoiler alert: it was incredible to witness.
"HOLY COW!" You just witnessed a historic triple axel from Mirai Nagasu. #WinterOlympics https://t.co/NsNuy9F46h pic.twitter.com/jCMTb4LtXv
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2018
This historic moment prompted an outpouring of love from Twitter in support of Mirai — including an ill-advised tweet from New York Times staff editor Bari Weiss.
In a tweet which has since been deleted, Weiss paraphrased a quote from Hamilton, saying “Immigrants: they get stuff done.” (The original line is “Immigrants: we get stuff done.”) The tweet was meant to celebrate Mirai and her accomplishments, but there was just one problem: Mirai Nigasu was born in California, and is not an immigrant.
Weiss attempted to backtrack amid the inevitable criticism, insisting that the original tweet was in reference to Nigasu’s parents.
The journalist was baffled as to how anyone could be offended by her (tone-deaf) remark.
For this tweet I am being told I am a racist, a ghoul and that I deserve to die. So I deleted the tweet. That's where we are.
— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) February 12, 2018
Twitter was not pleased by Weiss’ apparent lack of remorse.