Yesterday (1 June), the Internet was in an uproar after Samantha Katie James, a former Miss Universe Malaysia winner posted a series of offensive comments about the Black Lives Matter protests taking place in the United States that were triggered by the death of African American George Floyd.
She made statements targeted at African Americans like, “I don’t live in America and it has nothing to do with me, but to me, it seems like the ‘whites’ won.”
And, “If you’re angry, you response in rage and anguish and that means it has power over you. They have power over you.”
The 25-year-old Chinese mixed Brazilian beauty queen continued: “To the black people: Relax, take it as a challenge, makes you stronger. You chose to be born as a ‘coloured’ person in America for a reason. To learn a certain lesson.”
“Accept it as it is, till now hunger and poverty still exists. It is what it is. It’s inevitable. Best you can do is remain calm, protect heart, don’t allow it to crumble. That’s your responsibility.”
In another post, she answered a follower who asked what she meant by “chose to be born ‘coloured’” and said:
“Like our souls. Chose this life, this country, this race, this human form, specifically… I always wonder why I’m born in Malaysia, as a white girl, with Chinese mom and Indian grandparents and Brazilian dad.”
“But I chose this all for a reason, as a soul.”
Miss Universe Malaysia responds
Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (MUMO) has since come forward with a statement, disassociating themselves from Samantha as she is not contracted to MUMO, nor has she represented the organisation since June 2018.
They described Samantha’s posts as “inappropriate, offensive, unacceptable and hurtful”.
“The views expressed on Samantha’s personal Instagram account are her own personal views and are neither the view nor position of MUMO,” they wrote.
“MUMO stands for a non-racial society and strongly condemns all acts of racism and prejudice anywhere in the world.”
Former Miss Malaysia titleholders and contestants also chimed in their disapproval of Samantha’s statements by reposting MUMO’s statement on their Instagram stories.
Shweta Sekhon – Miss Malaysia Universe 2019
Jane Teoh – Miss Universe Malaysia 2018
Alexis SueAnn – Miss Universe Malaysia First Runner-up 2018
Netizens want her title revoked
Meanwhile, netizens are unsatisfied with MUMO’s response and have been pleading MUMO to revoke Samantha’s title as Miss Malaysia Universe 2017.
A petition was also created on Change.org yesterday (2 June) to strip Samantha of her Miss Malaysia crown and title which has since gained about 7,500 signatures at the time of writing.
Local celebs respond as well
Of course, our local celebs have been anything but quiet on their social media pages, with many being appalled that such words could come from Samantha. People like Jason Leong, Harith Iskandar and many others have took to social media to express their views on the matter.
Ladies and gentlemen, the most fucking stupid thing I've read in the past few days, and I've been reading Wan Fayshal's…
Posted by Dr Jason Leong Comedy on Isnin, 1 Jun 2020
Miss Malaysia Universe? More like Miss The Point
Posted by JinnyboyTV on Isnin, 1 Jun 2020
Damn. If u go over to miss Malaysia’s page u will see the amount of hate she is getting. It’s massive. So many crazy…
Posted by DanKhoo Productions on Isnin, 1 Jun 2020
my brain cannot handle this level of woke that the ex miss malaysia has.
Posted by Ming Han Ho on Isnin, 1 Jun 2020
Samantha has also made international news with portals like Independent.uk and India Today picking up the story.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more updates!
Also read: Former Miss Universe M’sia Winner Receives Major Backlash After Telling Black People To “Relax”
