Podcast Creators Ruffle Feathers For ‘Misogynistic’ Content Towards Woman
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A Singapore-based podcast, Okletsgo (OLG), has found itself under scrutiny due to its “humiliating and misogynistic” comments about women.
The podcast, which is hosted on Spotify and is the number-one podcast there in Singapore, typically covers topics like religion, sexuality, and drugs, and is helmed by former radio DJs Dzar Ismail, Dyn Norahim and Raja Razie.
Ismail told local publication Today that the podcast is “all about telling stories about the man on the street.” He explained, “Our style is raw and unapologetic.”
As the trio touch on topics that mainstream platforms would normally consider to be “taboo,” it quickly rose to fame for bringing “refreshing” discussions to light.
However, some social media users have pointed out that some of the conversations include sexist references. This can be heard in one episode on older woman, where one of the hosts jokes that he prefers “bums and legs” over a women’s breasts, sparking laughter from his co-hosts.
Such comments did not sit well with female listeners, who took to Twitter to call them out. “The underlying sexist misogyny in their jokes are distasteful—and it mostly makes me uncomfortable,” a Twitter user commented. “Women don’t appreciate their misogynistic views and deprecating jokes on women. If you say, ‘Well, that’s how men talk with each other,’ then that is a problem,” another user weighed in.
The controversy has prompted Singaporean president Halimah Yacob to issue a statement on the matter. She has called for the hosts to apologize for the misogynistic comments, describing that women are not objects that men should make fun of.
“Taking cheap shots at women to boost ratings or to make some people laugh no matter how offensive, cannot be justified under any label be it freedom of speech or encouraging conversations,” the president said. "How do you encourage healthy conversations about the role of women and families, when your starting point is to degrade women?”
She also requested for a “sincere and humble” apology to all the women over the “offensive humiliating and misogynistic remarks” made in the podcasts.
Prior to the president’s Facebook post, the OLG team stated that they “appreciate[d] the constructive feedback” and acknowledged that there was room for “improvements.” It also addressed the contention in a new podcast, reaffirming that it was “never [their] intention to degrade women, or offend anyone specifically.”
“I’d like to remind all of you that we are not mainstream, (our podcast) is meant to push boundaries, it’s not meant to be taken seriously,” one of the hosts said.
I honestly dont understand how people or women in particular listen to OLG - how are you not offended and or disgusted?? The underlying sexist misogyny in their jokes are distateful - and it mostly makes me uncomfortable
— *:charlie･ﾟ✧ (@malyxsa) June 8, 2020
OLG is created by Malay men, for Malay men. Women don't appreciate their mysoginistic views and deprecating jokes on women.
— MissHope (@Hopeily) June 10, 2020
If you say, "Well, that's how men talk with each other," then that is a problem. https://t.co/WWbRqjeuEI
we can go on and on about OLG but the thing is: they don't even see how or why their content is problematic. they don't understand it, they don't want to understand it, and anyone who offers criticisms are just "haters"
— fahms (@hellyeahfahmi) June 12, 2020
Jade Rasif spoke up and OLG bloods revealing their true colours again. Even if you don't want to respect, protect, or champion women, @RazieRaja @dzarismail @NorahimDyn , can you at least tell your horde not to threaten to rape women? Our bar is that low. pic.twitter.com/SvJDDAHpFp
— goyeng pichang ✨PREZ HALIMAH STAN✨ (@anygalien) June 13, 2020
olg saying they're not misogynistic cos they bought pampers and milk powder for single moms is the equivalent of saying "i'm not racist, i have a black friend"
— ZD #bIm (@z1d__) June 15, 2020
if u're a woman and u don't find olg disturbing or make your eyes roll due to the shit they say esp abt women then u're just one of those pick me bitches or ure just the "i only like the funny jokes and their humour je, no need to get so deep" type. it's not all bad but just NAH
— brownsugar (@eldaashira) June 11, 2020
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[via Today, opening image via Shutterstock]
