Ellen DeGeneres has defended herself after receiving backlash for posting an edited photo of herself riding on the back of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

DeGeneres, 58, posted the photo on Monday with the caption: "This is how I'm running errands from now on."

The original photo of Bolt smiling while running was shared widely following his gold medal win.

The image of a white woman riding a black man was slammed by some social media users.

The talk show host replied, tweeting: