“It’s just content” – Influencer Sam Lim Responds to Intense Backlash Over His ‘Tea Thambi’ Videos

Social media influencer Sam Lim recently found himself in hot water after videos of him interacting with local entrepreneur Kavievanan Subramaniam went viral for the wrong reasons.

In a two-part video, Sam spoke to Kavievanan and one of Kavievanan’s staff members about their business and Kavievanan’s alleged RM100,000 income and asked them about their race and nationality.

“Are you type B or type I?”

Kavievanan clarified that he was Malaysian and that he didn’t know what “type B” was, Sam told him to look around, as there were some foreigners in the area. Kavievanan then said he wasn’t Bangladeshi.

Sam also asked Kavievanan’s staff what “type” he was, and the staff said he was Malaysian.

“Do you have your passport?” Sam asked the staff member and then jokingly told the camera, “He doesn’t have an IC. He’s scared. He’s type B. (But he’s saying he’s) Malaysian. Later, DBKL might come and get them.”

Sam then took the opportunity to teach Kavievanan and his staff how ‘type I’ sells tea in India.

Sam went on to speak about Kavievanan’s tea business, the price, and the portion of his RM1 masala tea. He asked if he had a license for his bicycle stall outlet. When Kavievanan said he did, Sam said there was no need for a license.

“(He’s doing) business by the roadside, not paying for a license, RM100,000 income is possible. Everything, no need to pay. Tax, I don’t know if he pays,” Sam told the camera after telling his followers to support Tea Thambi should they like tea.

In a second video, Sam takes over Kavievanan’s bicycle stall outlet and later asks him how he managed to go viral without a TikTok account, to which Kavievanan responds that he relies on word of mouth.

As he ended the second video, Sam jokingly told Kavievanan’s staff member to run should DBKL appear.

Malaysians believe Sam’s approach is problematic

Many have since taken to Sam’s video and social media to call him out for insistently asking about their race, calling it rude and disrespectful.

From TikTok:

From X (formerly Twitter): 

“This is plain rude! Constantly saying ‘type B type B’, when they’ve already answered that they are Malaysians. No manners whatsoever.”

“This can be considered racist.”

Sam speaks to WORLD OF BUZZ

Speaking to WORLD OF BUZZ, Sam clarified that he had contacted Kavievanan and gotten consent before shooting the video, sent the videos to him, and received no feedback on the content.

He then shared his belief that there is nothing wrong with the videos as “It’s just content”, and that things were blown out of proportion by media portals labelling him a racist.

“So, now, after 2 months (of posting the videos), these media platforms, I don’t know which company, one is (censored), they started this fireback. They posted my content; I believe this is a new start-up company or some company that doesn’t get any engagement. They want to ride on the coattails of my name,”

“Use my name, take my content to increase their engagement.”

Sam added that these media platforms did not reach out to him for consent and called him ‘a racist influencer’.

We must acknowledge our many races

Additionally, Sam said that while we are Malaysians, we must acknowledge our many races, hence the “types.”

“In Malaysia, we have a lot of races. If I go to a hospital, the hospital will ask me to fill up a form, even on the form it’s written ‘What is your race? What is your religion?‘. Then should I say that the hospital is racist, ah?” he explained.

“I admit I am type C. If, let’s say, the other guy is Malay, admit lah type M. If you are Indian, you are type I. Of course, we are Malaysian, but as Malaysians, there are a lot of races that make us Malaysians. Don’t try to seem ‘atas‘ by saying you don’t race, that you’re Malaysian. Come on, don’t simply try to link this to 3R issues,” he added.

Sam said he doesn’t mind media platforms using his content but will not accept it when it is used to mislead the community.

“When I ask people, ‘What is your type‘, I don’t think that’s racist. If people ask me, ‘Are you Sam Lim or Samad Lim?‘ I’m not going to say they are racist. I did this content, I asked Tea Thambi if ‘you’re type I or type B?‘, just for confirmation. I don’t think that’s racist. And that’s content. And people are using this to mislead society now.”

“I feel like this is defamation on me. Because they (media portals) are using my content to say I’m a racist. And this issue is quite serious in Malaysia,” he said.

Sam went on to explain that his team would reach out to the media portals that labeled him a racist to take down their posts and issue an apology or face letters of demand from him.

“Because I didn’t mean to be racist. If I meant to be racist ah, hello, I won’t be doing social media anymore lah. So stupid meh? Racist people going and doing social media?”

You can check out the videos in question here: 

@samlimmmm

Masala Teh #samlim #janjikotaktakkosong #SAMLIMabintang #fyp #foryourpage #foryoupage #foryou

♬ original sound – Sam Lim – Sam Lim

@samlimmmm

Replying to @Bobaaaaaa SamLim speaks 6 languages, how about business? #samlim #janjikotaktakkosong #fyp

♬ original sound – Sam Lim – Sam Lim

What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

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