'This is all about emojis people': Ellen Pompeo fires back after receiving flak for using black cartoon icons amid tense racial discussion

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While engaging in a discussion over one racial controversy, Ellen Pompeo unwittingly triggered another one.

The Grey's Anatomy star, 47, defended using black emojis via Twitter after one user called her out for overstepping her bounds as 'a privileged white woman.'

The scandal ignited Friday in the wake of a brouhaha involving the actress - who's played Dr. Meredith Grey on Shonda Rhimes' ABC hit the past 12 years - and the A&E Network over an upcoming series the cable channel is set to broadcast on the Ku Klux Klan.

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Embroiled: Ellen Pompeo, 47, was caught in a Twitter brouhaha after using black emojis in a tweet 

Flashpoint: Many Twitter users were irate that the wealthy TV star sought to use said emojis

In defense: Pompeo reminded her 1.23 million followers that her husband Chris Ivery is black, and that they're parents to two biracial daughters. The family was snapped in NYC last June

Pompeo, who called for a boycott of the network, was pleased when it renamed the aforementioned special from Generation KKK' to 'Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America.'

She tweeted thanks at the network 'for caring enough to make changes,' accompanying said sentiment with emojis of blacks hands clapping and giving a thumbs-up sign.

That's when Pompeo found herself on the defensive, as a number of users took offense to the notion of her using the symbols.

Happy in love: Pompeo and Ivery, who turns 49 today, were snapped at an Italian film festival last year 

Firing back: The outspoken actress vigilantly defended herself from critics amid the discussion

One user, who has since put their profile on private, complained that 'it’s not fair to see a privileged white woman use [ethic] emojis just because you can,' adding 'It comes off as really obnoxious.'

The TV actress shot back, 'Don't be a hater I do it because racism is not just a black problem it is all of our problem get it???'

That opened the floodgates for more irritated users to address the actress on the touchy topic, though Pompeo stood her ground, explaining in a series of detailed tweets why she took the tack she did.

Appetizing: The couple, who exchanged vows in 2007, were spotted in Las Vegas in May 

'What's crazy is how angry everyone is... this is all about emojis people. It was a really positive thing a&e did... now that's not the focus ..my fault for responding,' she wrote. 'But sad to see racism is still alive and well on all sides.'

When a user told her that white people cannot experience racism, she responded, 'Ummm I've been called a white b---- and countless other things 50000 times today what would you call it?'

After another user wrote to her, 'SHUT UP, WHITE LADY,' Pompeo reminded her 1.23 million followers that her husband Chris Ivery is black, and that the pair are parents to two biracial daughters.

Shocked: The starlet started her horrified Twitter rant after stumbling upon a tweet that announced the new docu-series

'That's white lady with a black husband and black children to you babe,' she said, later adding, 'You do realize...being married to a black man and having black children can make you a target from racist white people right? That's a thing.'

Amid multiple back-and-forths over whether or not it was appropriate for her to address the issue, Pompeo stood her ground.

'I'm not embarrassed and I'm not contradicting myself it's a very complex issue and one I care about so ... I engage,' she wrote.

Call to action: The Grey's Anatomy starlet called for a boycott of the network

'We are smarter!' Ellen took the opportunity to plug her show, Grey's Anatomy, during the rant

Ka-ching: The actress said she thought the A&E Network's decisions were financially-based 

The social media storm came two days after Pompeo initially expressed her ire at the A&E special, which aims to give viewers a look into the lives of families headed by members of the Ku Klux Klan.

A furious Pompeo told the network, 'Shame on you,' before calling for a boycott in a series of tweets.

'Hey I have an idea...why don't we all never watch ANYTHING on A&E again who's with me????' she wrote, adding, 'So I guess A&E stands for ...we will try to put Anything and Everything on tv...because we are a bunch of desperate pathetic tv execs.'

You don't say: Pompeo criticized the 'timing' of the show,  precedes the presidential inauguration by 10 days

A&E eventually responded to the star, telling her that the program is based on people leaving the historically hateful organization, adding that they had received an endorsement from the Anti-Defamation League, a prominent and respected group focused on countering Anti-Semitism and other forms of hate.

'Okay if that is what it is PLEASE promote it as such...PLEASE,' Pompeo said in response.