SINGAPORE — Mediacorp and its Channel 8 service found themselves at the centre of a public backlash after an episode featuring a gay character was accused of trafficking in negative stereotypes, prompting LGBTQ-friendly brand Heckin' Unicorn to publicly demand a proper apology.
Screenshots from the episode circulated on social media platforms including Twitter and Instagram, with netizens calling out what they described as a hurtful and discriminatory portrayal of LGBTQ characters. Heckin' Unicorn, a local brand known for its LGBTQ-friendly positioning, took to Instagram to call on Mediacorp and Channel 8 to issue a genuine apology, arguing that a stated lack of intent does not undo the harm already caused. The brand added that discrimination should not be condoned, and offered to recommend professionals who could help the broadcaster develop non-discriminatory working practices.
Netizens echoed the call, urging Mediacorp to apologise publicly rather than confining its response to a comments section, and to recognise how the show had promoted homophobia.
Mediacorp clarified its character portrayal but stopped short of an apology — a point Heckin' Unicorn highlighted, stressing that no apology had in fact been given.
Actor Chase Tan, who played the role in question, apologised separately on Instagram. He said he was deeply saddened that the role had caused distress in the community and stressed it was never his intention to disrespect anyone. Describing himself as an aspiring actor for whom every opportunity is precious, he said he had enjoyed working alongside talented LGBTQ individuals over the years, thanked the community for its feedback, and pledged to continuously strive to do better.
The episode revived memories of earlier controversies over racial and minority portrayals in Singapore media — including a widely criticised E-Pay advertisement featuring an actor in brownface playing different races, which drew a rap response from Preeti Nair (Preetipls) and Subhas Nair that itself became the subject of a police investigation, and a NETS brownface advertisement that the Infocomm Media Development Authority ultimately found did not breach the advertising code.
The backlash highlights the growing assertiveness of Singapore's LGBTQ community and its allies in holding mainstream media accountable, even as the country continues to navigate the tension between conservative social norms and increasingly vocal demands for respectful representation.
Heckin' Unicorn's intervention was pointed. The local brand, known for its openly LGBTQ-friendly positioning, said in its Instagram post that Mediacorp's stated lack of intent did not undo the harm already caused by the portrayal, called on the broadcaster and Channel 8 to stop creating negative portrayals of the community, and added that discrimination should not be condoned. It even offered to recommend professionals who could help Mediacorp develop non-discriminatory working practices. Netizens piled on, urging Mediacorp to issue a proper public apology rather than confine its response to a comments section, and to acknowledge how the episode had promoted homophobia.
Actor Chase Tan, who played the role, moved quickly to apologise on his own Instagram. He said he was deeply saddened that the role had caused distress, stressed that it was never his intention to disrespect anyone, and described himself as an aspiring actor for whom every opportunity is precious. He thanked the community for sharing its feedback and pledged to continuously strive to do better. Mediacorp, for its part, clarified the character portrayal — but, as Heckin' Unicorn pointedly noted, no apology was given.
The row revived memories of earlier flashpoints over minority portrayals in Singapore media, including a widely criticised E-Pay advertisement in which an actor appeared in brownface playing characters of different races, and the police investigation that followed a rap video response by Preeti Nair and Subhas Nair. Each episode has added fuel to an ongoing debate about whether Singapore's mainstream broadcasters are keeping pace with a society whose younger audiences increasingly expect respectful representation.