Mischa Barton apologises for posting tribute to Alton Sterling with a photo showing herself on a yacht drinking wine

The actress has since deleted the post

Mischa Barton (Getty)

Mischa Barton has apologised for an Instagram post paying tribute to the death of Alton Sterling which showed the bikini-clad actress on a yacht with a glass of wine in hand, staring pensively into the distance.

Sterling, 37, was killed on Tuesday when he was shot dead by police in Louisiana. An autopsy found the father of five was killed by multiple gunshot wounds. His death preceded the death of another black man Philando Castile who was fatally shot in Minnesota on Wednesday.

Both shootings were captured on camera, sparking a rallying cry denouncing police brutality against the black community.

In a post which has since been deleted, Barton wrote: “I’m truly heartbroken to watch videos like the #altonsterling execution. This may have been going on forever in the United States but thank God the pigs get caught on camera now. It’s unthinkable and an embarrassment to America. The country I was brought up in. Somebody make change. We need gun control and unity. And a real President, so think about that when this election is around the corner. The world is a precarious place right now. #stop #reflect and #act appropriately.”

Barton’s response was branded out of touch by highlighting her own privilege. The post was deleted before her social media accounts stoked more controversy with a tweet apologising if the post had “gone out of context”, and a second tweet adding: “All lives matter!”. This tweet was then deleted from her page within half an hour of posting.

Barton's now-deleted Instagram post provoked some critical response from users who mocked her picture choice displaying luxury and privilege while speaking out about a social justice issue which disproportionately affects black communities in the US.

After she deleted the post and shared a picture of a building on Friday, Instagram followers continued to debate the original post branding it “tasteless”, "disconnected" and calling out her privilege.

However, some on Instagram have defended Barton for, at least, speaking out on the issue.

Mischa Barton

Background: Barton was born in London in 1986 but grew up in New York City. She began acting as a child and starred in Notting Hill and The Sixth Sense in 1999.

Career: She landed her role in The OC in 2003 which catapulted her to fame, front pages and red carpets.

Post-OC: She has appeared in a number of horror films and theatre productions and last year finished 11th on Dancing With the Stars. 

“I’m sure you meant well. I’ll just leave it at that,” wrote one user. “I appreciate you trying,” said another. “You take support wherever you can get it. She’s not the problems. Cops who shoot black people are,” wrote another.

A representative for Barton did not immediately respond to a request for comment.