Dennis Chew's "brownface" ad | Bite-Size News with Sam Jo | The Straits Times

Summary

This 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

00:00

😡 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.

Keywords

💡EPA

EPA likely refers to a 'public service announcement' or 'advertisement' in this context. It is a form of communication designed to raise awareness about a particular issue. In the video, the EPA is criticized for its poor representation of racial harmony, indicating that it failed to convey its intended message effectively.

💡racial harmony

Racial harmony refers to the peaceful and cooperative coexistence of different racial or ethnic groups. The video discusses an advertisement that was intended to promote racial harmony but was criticized for doing so in an offensive manner, thus highlighting the importance of sensitive and accurate representation in media.

💡Mediacom

Mediacom is mentioned as the actor and DJ involved in the controversial advertisement. This keyword is significant as it identifies a key figure in the incident who, through his actions, became part of the discussion on racial representation and the importance of cultural sensitivity.

💡brown facing

Brown facing is a term used to describe the act of a lighter-skinned person darkening their skin to represent a darker-skinned person, often in a derogatory or offensive manner. In the video, the term is used to criticize the advertisement for its inappropriate use of makeup to depict characters of different ethnicities, which is seen as disrespectful and harmful.

💡microaggressions

Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional, discriminatory actions or comments that communicate hostile or derogatory messages to a target person or group. The video uses this term to describe the cumulative effect of small, seemingly minor, racially insensitive actions, such as the advertisement's portrayal, which can undermine efforts towards racial harmony.

💡Chinese privilege

Chinese privilege refers to the unearned advantages or benefits that individuals of Chinese descent may experience in certain societies, often at the expense of other racial or ethnic groups. The video mentions the need to 'check Chinese privilege,' suggesting that dominant cultural groups should be aware of and work to counteract their privileged status to foster true equality and harmony.

💡minority experiences

Minority experiences encompass the unique challenges, perspectives, and cultural nuances of minority groups. The video emphasizes the importance of being mindful of these experiences, suggesting that true racial harmony requires understanding and respect for the diverse lived realities of different racial and ethnic groups.

💡celebrity agency

A celebrity agency is a management company that represents the interests of celebrities, helping them with career development, public relations, and other professional matters. In the context of the video, the celebrity agency is implicated in the controversy due to its association with the actor involved in the problematic advertisement.

💡creative agency

A creative agency, such as Havas Worldwide mentioned in the video, is responsible for the conceptualization and production of advertisements and other marketing materials. The video criticizes the creative agency for its role in producing an advertisement that was offensive and insensitive to racial diversity.

💡apologized

In the video, the act of apologizing is discussed in the context of the celebrity agency and the creative agency acknowledging their mistake and expressing regret. This highlights the importance of accountability and taking responsibility when media representations are found to be offensive or harmful.

💡character

Characters in this context refer to the people portrayed in the advertisement, who were depicted in a way that was criticized for being racially insensitive. The video discusses the importance of accurate and respectful character representation in media to avoid perpetuating stereotypes and fostering understanding.

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