Dennis Chew's "brownface" ad | Bite-Size News with Sam Jo | The Straits Times
Summary
TLDRThis script discusses a recent controversy involving Mediacorp actor and DJ Dennis Chew, who dressed up as various racial groups, including a Chinese man and woman, Malay woman, and Indian man, for an ad promoting the payment service, E-Pay. The ad faced backlash for 'brownface,' sparking conversations about racial insensitivity and Chinese privilege in Singapore. The ad’s creative agency, Havas Worldwide, and Mediacorp apologized, but the incident highlights ongoing issues with minority representation in Singaporean media. The video reflects on how such microaggressions can harm true racial harmony.
Takeaways
- 😮 The EPA ad over the weekend featured Mediacorp actor DJ Dez Chu dressing as various ethnic groups.
- 😠 The ad was criticized for poor taste, especially due to the use of brownface, which upset many viewers.
- 🤦♂️ DJ Dez Chu portrayed a Chinese man and woman, a Malay woman, an Indian man, and even a dog, sparking controversy.
- ✍️ MediaCorp and the ad's creative agency, Havas Worldwide, have since apologized and removed the images from their platforms.
- 👎 The ad was intended to promote e-payment for everyone by representing different ethnic groups, but it backfired.
- 🤔 Critics argued that the ad's portrayal was tone-deaf and did not reflect true racial harmony or inclusivity.
- 📅 This isn't MediaCorp’s first racial controversy, as they previously depicted blackface and made insensitive remarks in a TV series.
- 🗣️ The ad drew attention to broader issues in Singapore regarding Chinese privilege and minority representation.
- 📢 Some argue that microaggressions like brownface undermine efforts for genuine racial harmony in 2019.
- 💡 The script ends with the speaker encouraging viewers to reflect on the issue and contribute to the conversation on racial sensitivity.
Q & A
What controversial action did DJ Dez Chu take in the EPA over the weekend?
-DJ Dez Chu dressed up as different ethnic characters, including a Chinese man and woman, a Malay woman, and an Indian man, which was criticized as being in poor taste and an example of brownface.
Which organizations were involved in the creation and dissemination of the controversial ad?
-The ad was created by Mediacom, DJ Dez Chu, and the creative agency Havas Worldwide. It was distributed by Mediacom's celebrity management wing, The Celebrity Agency.
What was the intended message of the controversial ad?
-The intended message of the ad was to show that the payment service is for everyone, featuring characters from different walks of life.
How did the public react to the ad?
-The ad faced significant backlash, with people slamming both the ad and DJ Dez Chu for their poor taste and blatant use of brownface.
How did the organizations involved respond to the backlash?
-The organizations involved, including Mediacom and Havas Worldwide, apologized and removed the images from their website.
What historical context was provided to highlight Mediacom's previous mistakes in racial depictions?
-The script mentioned previous incidents, such as Gurmit Singh wearing an Afro wig and blackface makeup, and a drama where actress Chen Liping dressed as a Malay woman. These incidents highlight ongoing issues with racial sensitivity.
What criticism did the speaker provide regarding the use of DJ Dez Chu in the ad?
-The speaker criticized the ad for not genuinely representing people from all walks of life, suggesting that instead of having DJ Dez Chu shape-shift into various ethnic characters, the ad should have featured real individuals from those ethnic groups.
What does the speaker imply about the state of racial harmony in Singapore?
-The speaker implies that Singapore has a long way to go in terms of recognizing Chinese privilege and being mindful of minority experiences, as evidenced by recurring issues with racially insensitive portrayals.
How does the speaker describe the impact of microaggressions like brownface?
-The speaker describes microaggressions like brownface as actions that continue to undermine true racial harmony.
What call to action does the speaker suggest at the end of the script?
-The speaker suggests that instead of using brownface, there should be a genuine representation of diverse ethnic groups in media to promote true racial harmony.
Outlines
😡 Racist Advertising Backlash
The script discusses a controversial advertisement by Mediacorp actor and DJ Dez Chu, who dressed up as various ethnic characters, including a Chinese man, a Malay woman, and an Indian man, to promote a payment service. The ad was criticized for its poor taste and use of brownface, which many found offensive. The celebrity agency and the ad's creative agency, Havas Worldwide, have since apologized and removed the images from their website. They claimed the ad was meant to show the service's inclusivity, but the execution was seen as tone-deaf and inappropriate. The script also references past incidents of racial insensitivity in Singapore's media, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and respect for minority experiences.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡EPA
💡racial harmony
💡Mediacom
💡brown facing
💡microaggressions
💡Chinese privilege
💡minority experiences
💡celebrity agency
💡creative agency
💡apologized
💡character
Highlights
Mediacom actor and DJ Dez Chu dressed up as various ethnicities in an advertisement for the EPA, causing controversy.
The advertisement was criticized for poor taste and cultural insensitivity.
Both the celebrity agency and the creative agency Havas Worldwide have apologized for the incident.
The agencies removed the images from their website and explained the intention was to show the EPA is for everyone.
Critics argue that the advertisement was not effective in showing racial harmony.
The incident is not the first time Mediacorp has been criticized for its depiction of racial minorities.
There is a history of blackface and other racial insensitivity issues in Mediacorp's productions.
The incident highlights the need for Singapore to address Chinese privilege and be mindful of minority experiences.
The use of brownface in 2019 is seen as a microaggression that undermines true racial harmony.
The advertisement's failure to represent diversity authentically is a point of contention.
The incident raises questions about the representation of different ethnicities in media and advertising.
The apology from the agencies is an acknowledgment of the mistake but does not fully address the underlying issues.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural sensitivity in advertising.
The public's reaction to the advertisement indicates a growing awareness of racial issues in Singapore.
The incident underscores the need for more inclusive and respectful portrayals of different ethnic groups.
The use of impersonation in advertising can be problematic if not done with cultural understanding.
The incident calls for a broader conversation about race and representation in Singapore's media landscape.
Transcripts
if you came across this EPA over the
weekend and thought it looked odd well
you're not alone in some walk take on
racial harmony Mediacom actor and DJ Dez
Chu somehow thought it was a good idea
to dress I'm not just as a Chinese man
and woman but also a Malay woman of a to
dog and an Indian man of his skin Duncan
obviously this route quite a few
feathers with people slamming IPE as
well as Dennis for their poor taste and
blatant Brown facing media cop celebrity
management wing the celebrity agency and
the ads creative agency Havas worldwide
have since apologized and poked images
from their website they said the air was
meant to show that he payment is for
everyone and hence the characters from
different walks of life
please loud do you really think I'm
Melana in infants are gonna look at this
and go wow he pays for me and if you
really want people from all walks of
life look around you don't just get aunt
Lucy to shape-shift into our vases this
isn't the first time the media cop has
messed up Gray's depiction remember when
exertion power an afro wig and blackface
makeup for otago series and his co-star
Charming's characters say the Indians
and Africans are all the same and then
there was extra slim eight-cell playing
a to don wearing malay lady in the
channel a drama say cheese clearly
Singapore's a long way to go when it
comes to checking Chinese privilege and
being mindful of minority experiences I
get the dentist shoes brands dressing up
as other people but Brown facing in 2019
is microaggressions like this that
continue to undermine true racial
harmony tell me if you agree and thanks
for watching bite size news with samjoe
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