Bill Nye speaks out after being blasted online over massive error in tweet about history of Juneteenth | The Sun

BILL Nye has spoken out after sparking social media uproar when he inaccurately tweeted Juneteenth marked the anniversary of all slaves being freed.

The Science Guy, 66, praised his fans on Monday for correcting him after being widely called out on Twitter.

“The United States we know today was built with the labor of enslaved Black Americans,”  Nye tweeted along with a selfie holding a pocket-size constitution.

“The last were not freed (officially) until 19 June 1865. Let us celebrate— and never forget.”

Juneteenth actually celebrates the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger delivered news of the Emancipation Proclamation to the state of Texas, ordering the 250,000 slaves in Texas to be granted freedom.

In actuality, the last enslaved people in the US were freed in December 1865 when slavery was officially abolished by the 13th Amendment.

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Before then, states like Kentucky and Delaware had still allowed the practice.

Twitter users were quick to point out the real history of Juneteenth. to Bill Nye. 

“Taking a selfie of yourself holding up the constitution is not how the Black community is calling on others to honor Juneteenth," one user hit out.

"Donating to Black science organizations, amplifying Black scientists & fellow science communicators is a wonderful way to honor this day. Respectfully."

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"That is actually not true. The last in the rebel states were made aware today in 1865," another explained.

"Delaware held people enslaved until the ratification of the 13th. Native tribes did so until 1866. The 13th kept a loophole for slavery as punishment for a crime."

On Monday, Nye once again took to Twitter to thank fans for educating him; but stopped short of apologizing.

"Getting the facts right is important," the tweet read.

"I want to thank my followers for pointing out that Juneteenth did not mark the end of slavery."

"It was a milestone on the long road to freedom and a day chosen to celebrate and reflect."

Some users credited Nye for reflecting and correcting himself.

"As the scientist you are, you listened, you evaluated and saw you were wrong,” one follower replied.

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“You're still doing good work, Sir, "another said.

“I didn't even know about Juneteenth when I first moved to Texas for a few years when finally a company I worked for had it as a floating holiday. I had no idea.”

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