KUALA LUMPUR: The backlash against former Miss Malaysia
Universe Samantha Katie James over her social media comments appear to be
rising, with an online campaign mounted to strip her of her crown and title.
More than 15,000 people have so far signed a
petition on Change.org in less than 24-hours as a show of outrage against
James' comments on the riots in the United States sparked by the death of
African American civilian George Floyd, under police restraint.
The petition against James claimed that she
was unfit to represent Malaysia and seeks to compel the pageant runners to
strip the latter of her crown and title.
The fact that the crown and title was no
longer her's nevertheless did not deter the petition from invoking former Miss
Malaysia Universe Elaine Daly to get involved.
The fact that the crown and title were no
longer hers nevertheless did not deter the petitioners from invoking the
national director of the pageant and former Miss Malaysia Universe Elaine Daly
to get involved.
"Her ignorance and lack of self and
privilege awareness do not reflect the Miss Universe Malaysia title and with
this petition we hope she will be stripped of her title," read the
petition.
The petition was updated with a posting of the
Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (MUMO) statement in which MUMO had
distanced itself from James and her remarks.
MUMO asserted that she has not represented the
organisation since June 2018.
The petition, however, said MUMO's stand was
"unsatisfactory" and said further action must be taken against James
if the organisation was truly 'anti-racist' .
"If they strongly condemn all acts of
racism and prejudice, they would've stripped her of her crown and title.
"Stripping James' crown and title would
serve as an example that your organisation will not tolerate any forms of
prejudice be it past, present or future winners," said the petition.
James, 25, has come under fire after taking to
Instagram telling African Americans protesting Floyd's death to
"relax" following his brutal and public death.
She had said "to the black people, relax,
take it as a challenge, makes you stronger."
She also claimed that they "chose to be
born as a 'colored' person in America for a reason. To learn a certain
lesson."
The Malaysian model of Chinese-Brazillian
descent also defended herself against criticism pointing out her privilege by
claiming that she had experienced discrimination as a "white girl in a
local Malaysian school."
Meanwhile, homegrown makeup company Velvet
Vanity has severed ties with James.
It issued a statement on Instagram last night
after social media users had tagged them over her remarks. One user had also
pointedly told them to "stop sponsoring racists".
Velvet Vanity said they catered to people of
all skin colours and supporting James would be contradictory.
"Any posts featuring (James) was made way
before this case and we are not affiliated with her anymore.
"As a brand, we support #blacklivesmatter
and we would never associate ourselves with racist behaviour in any way,"
read the statement.
James had earlier modelled one of their
lipsticks in a post on her Instagram feed.
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