Paparazzi Ask Chrissy Teigen Why Her Husband Is Still Around ‘If We Evolved from Monkeys’

John Legend was the subject of a racist question paparazzi asked his wife, Chrissy Teigen, as the two made their way through the airport Thursday, Jan. 19.

Teigen tweeted that a photographer had been asking her a series of cooking questions before he compared Legend to a monkey at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Paparazzi at JFK just asked me “if we evolved from monkeys, why is John Legend still around?” – and people wonder why celebs lose it in pics

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 19, 2017

I was very kind. Answered cooking questions, then he came with that. Fucking disgusting.

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 19, 2017

Also, john is right next to me. The balls.

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 19, 2017

Legend himself has not commented on the matter, but Teigen’s followers immediately shared their surprise about the remark.

@chrissyteigen what in the ENTIRE FUCK

— Jean Grae (@JeanGreasy) January 19, 2017

@chrissyteigen @platinumjones wow scumbags….

— CROSSY (@CrossyTweets) January 19, 2017

@chrissyteigen what complete pieces of shit. They’re trash.

— Keah Brown (@Keah_Maria) January 19, 2017

When one fan said Teigen should have fought back, the model declined.

Nah. They live for that photo and lawsuit. https://t.co/EE6DlhnjfJ

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 19, 2017

Several followers offered to fight the paparazzi.

@chrissyteigen who was it? pic.twitter.com/ewuFiEr2pY

— ??‍♂️ (@BHernandez971) January 19, 2017

@chrissyteigen Girl . . . . Earrings and shoes off.

— Michelle Hylton (@chelliehylton) January 19, 2017

Others shared how they would have responded, including some who relied on karma.

@chrissyteigen Oh hell no. That would’ve made me snap!

— Angie Grace (@AngieGraceLA) January 19, 2017

@chrissyteigen Cheap, transparent, racist, pathetic attempt to get a rise out of you to sell to TMZ.Kama is swift,his punishment is his life

— Le Gateau Chocolat (@LeGateauChoc) January 19, 2017

@chrissyteigen smh….they’re gonna ask the wrong person, at the wrong time, the wrong question then everything will be right pic.twitter.com/WD71G4eX8o

— Tony Stank Bih (@walkerk23) January 19, 2017

Some responders remarked on the lack of respect photogs have for celebrities.

@RealJakeFapper @chrissyteigen disrespectful and ignorant paparazzi. We’re all humans.

— REL (@kxngREL) January 19, 2017

@chrissyteigen People actually think it’s okay to treat celebs badly because “they are celebs; they can take anything” disgusting.

— Sabrina (@gillianscarrie) January 19, 2017

This instance of racism was targeted towards Legend, but Teigen also has been on the receiving end of it. In July 2015, she tweeted a man hurled a racial epithet at her.

I dropped my sunglasses this AM on Santa Monica blvd and this seemingly normal looking dude screamed “fucking chinks always dropping shit”

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) April 16, 2015

We were the only ones on the block and he screamed it from 5 feet away. Then when I acknowledged it he said “oh now the oriental can hear”

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) April 16, 2015