Betty White faced criticism in the 1950s for including Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her TV show The Betty White Show. This was a bold move at the time because racial segregation and discrimination were still widespread, especially in the southern United States.
Here’s what happened:
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In 1954, Betty White was hosting her own daytime variety show on NBC.
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She featured Arthur Duncan, then a young and talented Black tap dancer, giving him national exposure.
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As the show aired, Southern TV stations threatened to boycott or pull the program unless Duncan was removed from the lineup because of his race.
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Betty White refused to comply. Her famous response to the backlash was reportedly:
“I’m sorry. Live with it.” -
She kept Arthur Duncan on the show and even gave him more airtime instead of backing down.
Because of this and other progressive decisions she made, Betty White’s show was eventually canceled. However, her support gave Duncan a big break, and he went on to become the first Black regular on a variety TV show (The Lawrence Welk Show), which helped pave the way for other Black performers in television.
It’s one of those moments that really shows her character—she stood up for what was right even when it came at a personal cost.
