YouTubers as violated at Singapore as the government has accused two YouTubers of making a “blatantly racist rap video” in an ongoing row over an ad which the rappers describe as racist.
It said they showed contempt for Singaporeans concerned by their video.
The payment app ad shows an ethnically Chinese actor in “brownface”.
The satirical video, created by Preeti Nair – also known as Preetipls – and her rapper brother Subhas, is full of expletives and takes on the subject of race, highly sensitive in Singapore.
After a backlash, the creators of the advert issued an apology – which the Nair duo later parodied in their own mock-apology statement.
Model from ‘racist’ D&G ad says it almost ruined her career
Are adverts being deliberately racist?
Outrage at China’s ‘racist’ whitewashing advert
Responding to this, Singapore’s Ministry for Home Affairs criticised Preeti and Subhas Nair for what they called their “insincere apology”.
“It is a spoof of an earlier apology issued by Havas Worldwide [ad agency] for the e-pay advertisement,” it told local media.
“This spoofing is a pretence of an apology, and in fact shows contempt for the many Singaporeans who have expressed concern at their blatantly racist rap video.”