Polarized reactions for TVB's 'brownface' controversy

A Hong Kong drama has drawn polarized reactions after local actress Franchesca Wong Yuen-wah darkened her skin in an attempt to play the role of a Filipino domestic helper.  

In TVB series Barrack O’Karma 2, Canadian-Hong Konger actress Wong appeared with visibly darker skin while playing the role of a Filipino domestic helper, “Louisa.”

Netizen chatter on social media platforms called the move “so wrong” and problematic, while some - including people from the Filipino community - said people were making a fuss of it, noting that it only makes the portrayal more realistic.  

“I am a Filipina and I'm not offended...I'm proud of our skin, it's not a big deal!,” a Facebook user Nona Amor wrote in the comments.  

“It’s not a big deal, not at all comparable to ‘blackface’ in the west, she just gets a ‘tan’ to portray the role of a Filipino domestic helper a bit more realistically. As long as she plays the role well, and doesn’t go out of her way to offend, what’s the big deal?” Facebook user Ana Nillos Sande said in another comment.  

Some also said people should start to look beyond class and color as “there were bigger issues in the world rather than skin color”.

Most Cantonese coverage in the city about the incident praised Wong’s performance, which critics said the media in Hong Kong has wholly ignored or shrugged off the racial controversy that the “brownface” has caused.  

One of Hong Kong’s advocates for the city’s ethnic minority communities, Jeffrey Andrews, a social worker of Indian descent, said the program has degraded their skin color for entertainment.  

“When you degrade their [Filipinos] skin color and mock them in your TV programs for your entrainment, you are disrespecting us, you are degrading us, you are hurting us, you are hurting the image of Hong Kong.  

“It is simply wrong to use brown face to imitate our skin tone… it shouldn’t be like this. We are an inclusive city, an educated and civilized city,” he wrote.  

Separately, netizens poured into actress Wong’s Instagram page, with some criticizing her for her “astounding racial insensitivity.”  

Upon request for comments, a TVB spokesperson said through Wong’s professional performing techniques and sophisticated handling of role-playing, the character Louisa was successfully portrayed.  

“TVB has always strived to provide a top-notch entertainment experience for our viewers, and we wish to emphasize that it was never our intention to show disrespect or to discriminate against any nationality in any of our programs. We would like to express our concern to anyone who might be affected in this matter,” the spokesperson said.  

Read more: TVB stirs controversy with Filipina portrayed by actress in “brownface”