Blackface row reignites racism debate in Singapore, stirring outcry for action

A salesman appears in blackface to promote a Toyota Noah Hybrid in an advert for JDM Automobile Carros Centre in Singapore. - Photo: YouTube/WakeUpSingapore

SINGAPORE: In Singapore, a string of controversies involving blackface has reignited discussions about racism in the multicultural city state, prompting some to call for stricter penalties.

While academics note that blackface does not carry the same historical weight in Singapore as in the United States, where it is tied to segregation and slavery, it still perpetuates offensive racial stereotypes.