An actress portraying the role of a Pinay DH was turned brownface in a Hong Kong TV show
BARRACK O’KARMA 1968 – A television series in Hong Kong drawn flak online over the brownface of the actress portraying a Filipina character.
The supernatural romantic drama series features the story of a woman searching for her barista boyfriend who has gone missing in the Golden Night Building.
One of the characters in the said series is actress Franchesca Wong, who plays the role of Luisa, a Filipina domestic worker.
Previously, she went to social media wherein she posted a video of herself applying make-up.
“I am transforming into another person, to Luisa,” she said in what sounded like an exaggerated Filipino accent.
The clip became viral on social media generating reactions from the netizens.
Among those who reacted is Vivienne Chow, a culture writer, and contributor to American media company Variety. She took to Twitter wherein she shared her thoughts about it.
Apparently, the footage started a petition on change.org.
According to the petition, the video was “unacceptable” and the behavior of Franchesca was “not only culturally insensitive and disrespectful” but supported “harmful stereotypes towards ethnic minorities in Hong Kong” as well.
Currently, the petition has drawn 549 signatures.
The criticism hurled against the Hong Kong TV series prompted Coconuts Hong Kong to contact TVB for reaction.
But according to their spokesperson, the storyline of the show “between a domestic helper and her employers was simply a dramatic story plot based on creativity” and has no intention “to show disrespect or to discriminate any nationality in any of our program.”
Meanwhile, actress Franchesca Wong has already issued an apology.
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