The picture has divided opinion with some social media users calling SA President Jacob Zuma a ‘disgrace’ while others believe US President Barack Obama was ‘rude’ when he ‘chose to interrupt’
A picture of US President Barack Obama making a phone gesture while shaking the hand of South African President Jacob Zuma, who was captured speaking on the phone, has caused a social media stir.
The picture was taken at a luncheon during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Presidents Obama and Zuma at a UN luncheon Photo: EPA/Chip Somodevilla
The picture has certainly divided opinion in the twitterverse and Facebook with some users questioning why President Zuma didn’t put the phone down to greet the American president. Some are even calling the act “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.
Conversely, some social media users sprung to Zuma’s defence over the accusations of his perceived lack of good social etiquette, and questioned why Obama instead “chose to interrupt”.
Interestingly, some tweeps chose to straddle the line of neutrality and noted that the picture is devoid of context, with one user saying: “The problem…is that you don’t know what preceded the shot, and what happened next”.
Timeslive asked its readers on Facebook, “Who’s more important to Zuma than Obama, that he didn’t put down the cellphone to greet the US president?”
As the debate rages on, here’s our selection of some of the comments in reaction to the trending picture.
The picture was taken at a luncheon during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Presidents Obama and Zuma at a UN luncheon Photo: EPA/Chip Somodevilla
The picture has certainly divided opinion in the twitterverse and Facebook with some users questioning why President Zuma didn’t put the phone down to greet the American president. Some are even calling the act “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.
Conversely, some social media users sprung to Zuma’s defence over the accusations of his perceived lack of good social etiquette, and questioned why Obama instead “chose to interrupt”.
Interestingly, some tweeps chose to straddle the line of neutrality and noted that the picture is devoid of context, with one user saying: “The problem…is that you don’t know what preceded the shot, and what happened next”.
Timeslive asked its readers on Facebook, “Who’s more important to Zuma than Obama, that he didn’t put down the cellphone to greet the US president?”
As the debate rages on, here’s our selection of some of the comments in reaction to the trending picture.
