Malaysian mandopop singer apologises for brownface stunt in music video
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26 January 2021
Malaysian mandopop singer Choo Haoren has apologised for causing an uproar online over his latest music video featuring a Chinese woman wearing brownface to depict a tanned character. Choo copped flak online for an music video featuring a female lead, portrayed by Instagrammer Qiu Wen, who gets bullied for having tanned skin. Although Choo has deleted the music video from his social media platforms, copies of it are currently circulating online, including on YouTube.
The music video shows the female receiving a note saying "You are so dark, does your Mum know?". Frustrated by the teasing, the female protagonist attempts to rid of her tanned skin using an eraser. Then comes the male protagonist who has a crush on her and secretly sends her skin lightening remedies including soy milk and whitening drink sachets, with notes saying "Drink this and you'll be come fair". The music video also featured the skin whitening product Snowbebe. The girl eventually becomes fair and falls in love with another male. Netizens criticised Choo for being racist and called the video "insulting". Some also added that they could not believe they were still having such conversations about brownface and race in 2021.