Comedian Jocelyn Chia back on Instagram, says not ‘cancelled’ by platform over MH370 joke
- Chia, whose skit at a New York comedy club sparked fierce backlash from Malaysians, said her account got suspended for ‘impersonating a celebrity’
- Singapore earlier apologised on her behalf and said she was no longer a citizen of the city state
In her latest Instagram post on @chiacomedy on Friday, Chia said, “Rumour had it that I either deleted my IG, or that I got ‘cancelled’ by IG.
“My account actually got suspended for ‘impersonating a celebrity’.
“I was like, WHO is the celebrity???
“Answer: Jocelyn Chia (followed by laughing emojis).
Chia is now a US citizen as Singapore has said she is not a citizen of the island republic any more.
Envoy says comedian ‘not Singaporean’ as Malaysia rages at MH370 joke
Her social media accounts had been deactivated following backlash received for the joke she made about the missing Malaysia Airlines plane.
Her Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts were earlier inaccessible.
Chia, who was performing at a comedy club in New York, first joked about Malaysia being a developing country that was far behind Singapore, 40 years after the island nation was “dumped” by Malaysia in 1965.
She then made crude references to the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 tragedy in a joke about Malaysia seeking to re-establish ties with Singapore.
The controversy prompted Singapore’s high commissioner in Kuala Lumpur to issue an apology to all Malaysians for Chia’s “hurtful remarks”.
‘This joke kills’: Singaporean comic enrages Malaysia with MH370 gag
Malaysia’s foreign ministry called her skit a blatant absence of sensitivity and empathy towards Malaysians and the victims of the plane mystery.
“I hope that any form of action or attempt like this can be stopped to ensure respect for any country continues to be preserved,” Foreign Minister Zambry Abd Kadir said in a statement.
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also apologised for the offence caused, saying he was “appalled” by the jokes.
“She certainly does not speak for Singaporeans, we treasure our ties with family and friends in Malaysia,” he wrote on Twitter.
Additional reporting by SCMP’s Asia desk
