A Hongkong TV station got criticized for running a series where a local HK actress Franchesca Wong was shown being painted dark brown on her face and body to portray a Filipina maid. The station apologized but the Philippine consul general said "it was a non-apology."
Hong Kong broadcaster TVB was criticized after a local actress portraying a Filipino character in the television series "Barrack O'Karma 1968” was made to put on dark make-up on her face and body to look stereotypically Filipino.
Actress Franchesca Wong, raised in Hong Kong and Canada, plays Filipino domestic worker Luisa in her first role in a TV show and one of her co-stars posted a video of her getting ready for her role by painting her legs a dark shade of brown.
In the video, she said she is "transforming to another person" by "sun tanning," which she said in a fake accent.
The disrespect reached the Philippine envoy to Hong Kong as they called the local tv drama "totally disgusting" for featuring a Chinese actress who darkened her skin to portray a domestic helper.
Consul General Raly Tejada criticized the free-to-air TV station one day after the broadcaster said it never intended to disrespect or to discriminate against any nationality and praised the actress's "professional" performing techniques in response to public backlash.
"The show is downright ignorant, insensitive and totally disgusting," Tejada said in a reply to the Post on Thursday. "It's a non-apology. Just shows their insensitivity and callous disregard even when people are hurting from this negative portrayal of a Filipino helper."
Wong finally broke her silence after releasing a statement in the morning of April 20 saying that she “sincerely apologize[s] to all who have been negatively affected in any way by the seventh chapter ‘Jei Jei’ of the Barrack O’Karma 1968 drama series, and [her] role in it.”
“I genuinely have no intention to disrespect or racially discriminate any ethnic group, please forgive me for getting it wrong. I am truly sorry that my insensitivities have offended and hurt. I am committed more than ever to using my acting for the good of the community,” the statement posted on Instagram noted.
Tags: #HongKongTV, #dramaseries, #Filipinamaid, #entertainment