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.’