TVB star apologises for 'blackface' controversy playing Filipino helper role

TVB actress Franchesca Wong has apologised on her Instagram account after her role as a Filipino domestic helper in TVB's series Barrack O'Karma 2 which ignited criticism from the Filipino community.  Wong said on her Instagram that she has taken some time over the past few days to process her emotions, reflect, speak to members of the community and listen to the many voices that have reached out to her.

"I sincerely apologise to all who have been negatively affected in any way by the seventh chapter 'Jeh Jeh' of the Barrack O'Karma 2 1968 drama series, and my role in it. I have learned through this incident that professionally trying my best to analyse, interpret and act a given role to fulfil the storyline, is only part of the job," said Wong. She added that she "genuinely had no intention to disrespect or racially discriminate any ethnic group" and seeks forgiveness for getting it wrong.

"It has been a challenging experience to be the centre of a lesson that art reflects deeply entrenched social attitudes. Open sharing, if handled well, can surely only be good in raising awareness of issues that need to be discussed. 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," she said.

In the series, Wong plays the role of "Louisa", a domestic worker from The Philippines, with visibly darker skin. Several days back, a video circulated online showing Wong applying make-up on her legs, and saying in a Filipino accent that she is transforming into another person and sun-tanning. The video was originally posted by Wong's fellow actor Lam King-ching on Instagram, but Lam deleted the video on his personal account afterwards.

Previously, the Philippines' counsel general in Hong Kong Raly Tejada said on his personal Facebook that the series was downright ignorant, insensitive and totally disgusting. "It cannot be denied that the portrayal of the Filipino helper and use of brownface reinforces negative stereotypes that characterise 'Bun Mui', an offensive Cantonese slang (look it up)."

Tejada said, "Recent world events should have taught TVB that it is unacceptable to assign a corresponding social value to a particular race. You have no right to mock and ridicule people based on their race and ethnicity."

Interestingly however, Wong's performance was lauded by local media despite the blackface incident. In response to the incident, a spokesperson of TVB told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that "through her professional performing techniques and sophisticated handling of role-playing, the character Louisa was successfully portrayed".  She added, "TVB has always strived to provide top-notch entertainment experience for our viewers and we wish to emphasise that it was never our intention to show disrespect or to discriminate any nationality in any of our programme. We would like to express our concern to anyone who might be affected in this matter.

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