Google has apologized for a racially offensive picture of Michelle Obama that appears when users search for images of the first lady. “A doctored picture appears at the top of the list under a Google Image search for Mrs Obama. Google placed a text ad above the image titled ‘Offensive Search Results’, which states: ‘Sometimes our search results can be offensive. We agree.’ But it refused to take the image down from its search results. The White House has declined to comment about the picture.” The image, which still appears in searches, shows the first lady’s face superimposed onto a chimp’s in a well-worn and outrageous piece of racial stereotyping.
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Race to Apologize
Google has apologized for a racially offensive picture of Michelle Obama that appears when users search for images of the first lady.
Monthly Issue
April 2026
In this monthly issue, we examine how our understanding of energy — and how we source and use it — is evolving.
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