Local YouTube star Preeti Nair and her brother, rapper Subhas Nair, released a statement earlier today apologising “for any hurt that was unintentionally caused” by the online rap video they created.
The statement was posted on both the siblings’ Instagram and Facebook pages mimicked the very statement issued by Havas Worldwide, a creative agency that was hired for the advertisement, as well as The Celebrity Agency (TCA), Mediacorp’s celebrity management arm.
Their full statement: “The message behind this music video is that opportunities must be for everyone.
“For that reason, K. Muthusamy, well-known for his ability to address privilege, power and censorship in a single production in a light-hearted way, was selected as the face of this music video.
“He speaks to characters from all walks of life in Singapore, bringing home the point that only some people truly pay.
“We’re sorry for any hurt that was unintentionally caused. Behind this music video is an initiative to provide greater consciousness to consumers, corporations, and the many faces of Singapore.”
The statement released by Havas and TCA on July 28 said: “The message behind this advertising campaign is that e-payment is for everyone.
“For that reason, Dennis Chew, well-known for his ability to portray multiple characters in a single production in a light-hearted way, was selected as the face of the campaign. He appears as characters from different walks of life in Singapore, bringing home the point that everyone can e-pay.
“We’re sorry for any hurt that was unintentionally caused. Behind the ad is an initiative to provide greater convenience to consumers, merchants and small food businesses.”
The online rap video, titled K. Muthusamy, was made by Preeti Nair, and her brother Subhas Nair in response to a recent advertisement by e-payments website epaysg.com.
The ad had featured Mediacorp celebrity Dennis Chew in “brownface” portraying characters such as a woman in a tudung and a man with visibly darker skin.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said that the video was “vulgar” and “unacceptable”.
In a statement on his social media page, he said: “When you use four-letter words, vulgar language, attack another race, put it out in public, we have to draw the line and say not acceptable.”
Many netizens noticed the similarity in Preetipls and her brother’s apology.
/TISG