Ex-Miss Universe Malaysia Gets Instagram Tick Removed Over Bizarre Racist Posts
Image via moonnoor / Shutterstock.com
Former Miss Universe Malaysia Samantha Katie James has sparked global outrage online due to controversial comments she had made regarding the Black Lives Matter movement.
Responding to nationwide protests against racism in the US following the death of George Floyd, the 2017 beauty queen told the African-American community that they should “relax, take it as a challenge” and “accept it as it is.”
“You chose to be born as a ‘colored’ person in America for a reason. Accept is as it is, till now hunger and poverty still exists,” James bizarrely continued.
James acknowledged that she doesn’t live in America and that she has no involvement with the protests. However, she viewed the situation as if the “whites had won.”
“Because if you’re angry, you respond in rage and anguish. That means it has power over you. They have power over you,” she wrote, along with an accompanying “Foolish Humans” caption.
Her comments didn’t sit well with the public, including Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, who openly responded to her on his Instagram page. “I usually try to keep a cool head when it comes to these things, but reading your comment, @samanthakayty infuriated me,” the actor wrote.
“You have zero idea what black people have to go through on a day to day basis,” he continued. “The majority of us will never truly be able to understand what the Black community goes through every single day, but one thing for sure you can do is to lend a voice, to teach people and educate them on opening their eyes to what is under the veil.”
The Miss Universe Malaysia Organization (MUMO) has also distanced itself from James’ remarks, calling her comments, “inappropriate, offensive, unacceptable and hurtful.”
Social media users also noticed that James had lost her verified “blue tick” on her Instagram following the tone-deaf remarks.
Previously expressing no remorse from the internet uproar, James later issued a non-apology on Instagram after a beauty brand had dropped its sponsorship with her.
“I do hear you, I’m sorry, I know you’re hurting. I know it’s unfair. I’m not in your shoes to understand this fully…” she defended.
James then added, “What I meant by ‘black people chose to be black’ is that throughout my journey I have learned that we are more than just this temporary physical body… In our process towards evolution as a human being, on earth, we chose our body, our family, our place of birth, our name, and our lessons from the path we take tailor-made for us.”
The former beauty queen apologized for not articulating her statement properly, but did not further address why she thought people should “relax” and “accept it as it is.”
as a malaysian, i am disgusted by @/samanthakayty. your words are downright vile & ignorant. what do you mean “you chose to be born as a coloured person”? are you hearing yourself? how were you even miss universe malaysia? we don’t want you representing/speaking for malaysia!!! pic.twitter.com/A4Jq2UfG5z
— 🏳️🌈 // 🌱🌱🌱🌹🌹🌹🚰🚿 (@TYbububu) June 1, 2020
This y’alls miss universe malaysia??? pic.twitter.com/XRsQM0nLbC
— HEAD BARB IN CHARGE (@lilasianthiccie) June 1, 2020
Miss universe malaysia customising her race before she was born ✨ pic.twitter.com/Ih8nxFqFyJ
— hesh ☾ (@epiphatay) June 1, 2020
Y’all look at what they did to the miss universe Malaysia lady’s Wikipedia page😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/jkZZw8htqZ
— .. (@momo_skinnny) June 1, 2020
yalllll henry golding called out samantha too BIG YIKESSS LMAOO king shit 👑 pic.twitter.com/jfoHURe9L2
— wh.tsername (@larissalorelle) June 2, 2020
I have to congratulate @instagram for their amazing reaction, I can’t be more proud #SamanthaKayty How do you feel ? Instagram revoked her verification Badge . Now @MissUniverseMY it’s time to follow the voice street . #racistsarecancelled ! pic.twitter.com/rUk6sx7yba
— dnsmeal (@dnsmeal1) June 2, 2020
[via Today, opening image via Samantha Katie James]
