Hong Kong actress apologises after brownface portrayal of Filipino domestic worker in TV drama sparks outrage


A Hong Kong actress who darkened her skin to play a Filipino domestic worker in a prime-time television drama has broken her silence after a week to apologise.

Franchesca Wong offered her apology on Wednesday, a week after the seventh episode of broadcaster TVB’s Barrack O’Karma 1968 series aired and sparked online debate and criticism from the Philippine consul general in the city.

“I genuinely have no intention to disrespect or racially discriminate [against] any ethnic group, please forgive me for getting it wrong,” Wong said on her Instagram account. “It has been a challenging experience to be at the centre of a lesson that art reflects deeply entrenched social attitudes.”

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