Netizens outraged after F45 fitness studio posts racially insensitive video of two women shaking their heads side to side, while saying “Happy Deepavali”

Singapore — A video circulating online of two women at F45 Fitness Studio in Serangoon Garden has made its way around the internet, drawing the ire of netizens for being insensitive.

The fitness studio, which is part of a chain, uploaded a 14-second Instagram Story – which has since been taken down – featuring two women on Thursday (Nov 4). In the clip, the two women, presumably members of the studio, could be seen shaking their heads side to side vigorously, while saying “Happy Deepavali”.

Other voices can be heard laughing in the background. Whilst doing the head movement, one of the women said: “My head/hair cannot turn”. The head bobble or Indian head shake derogatorily refers to a common gesture found in South Asian cultures, most notably in India.

 

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The two women could be seen bobbing their heads while they did a leg exercise.

The video was taken down from F45’s Instagram stories but was reposted onto popular Facebook page Wake Up, Singapore where it garnered many angry comments.

Following the post, F45 Fitness studio took down the video and posted an apology. They said: “F45 has always been a family friendly place to exercise and we do many fun videos with our members. However we have received feedback that this video is racially insensitive. Our intentions were never to make fun or hurt anyone’s feelings. Deepavali is the festival of lights and love.

We are very sorry for the mistakes and hope to seek your forgiveness.”

/TISG