#MeTwo is a hashtag created in mid-2018 in response to criticism and hate mail directed at Turkish-German footballer Mesut Özil after he posed for a photo with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.[1] The hashtag campaign was launched by social activist Ali Can, who encouraged those affected by racism in Germany to use it in their tweets to draw attention to the extent of racist harassment and racist attacks. Since then, this hashtag has been used thousands of times in Germany.[citation needed] International media also reported on this hashtag, which is based on the #MeToo movement. "MeTwo" was chosen to draw attention to the fact that one can also have two nationalities, and Can cited Özil saying "I have two hearts, one German and one Turkish" as an influence.[1]