Nigel Ng Defends ‘uncle Roger’ Persona Against “yellowface” Allegations

The Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng has defended his celebrated “Uncle Roger” characteristic pursuing disapproval from nan salient American cook J Kenji López-Alt, who branded nan capacity arsenic “yellowface.”

The conflict centers connected nan exaggerated Cantonese-inflected accent Ng uses successful his viral YouTube videos, which often critique Western chefs’ attempts astatine Asian cuisine. López-Alt, an award-winning cookbook author, primitively criticized nan persona successful 2021, stating that it “promotes anti-Asian racism” and gives non-Asians a “free pass” to mock Asian reside patterns.

Read more: Nigel Ng AKA ‘Uncle Roger’ punched successful nan look successful Coronavirus-related racist London attack

Responding successful a video published connected 8 February, Ng rejected nan thought that an accent is inherently a antagonistic stereotype. “Accent is not a stereotype. Accent is conscionable really we talk and really we live,” Ng said. “There’s thing incorrect pinch having an accent.”

Slang and taste pride

Ng, 34, based on that his characteristic has really served to globalize Malaysian civilization alternatively than denigrate it. He pointed to nan wide take of his catchphrases, specified arsenic “haiyaa” and “fuiyoh,” arsenic grounds of a affirmative taste impact.

“Uncle Roger popularised Malaysian slang to nan full world,” Ng told his viewers. He added that erstwhile fans imitate nan character, they do truthful “out of love” alternatively than mockery.

Read more: Comedian Nigel Ng says ‘Stop AAPI Hate’ should beryllium called ‘Yellow Lives Matter’

The comedian besides noted that he feels nary embarrassment regarding his background, comparing his activity to different creators who find joke successful their parents’ Arabic, Italian, aliases Hispanic heritage. Addressing López-Alt directly, he quipped: “Sorry, I don’t sound achromatic for illustration you, Nephew Kenji.”

The Asian-American perspective

Following Ng’s response, López-Alt updated his original video explanation to explain his stance. While he acknowledged that Ng apt has “good intentions,” nan 46-year-old cook explained that his concerns are rooted successful nan circumstantial acquisition of nan Asian-American community.

López-Alt referenced nan crisp emergence successful anti-Asian unit successful nan United States during nan COVID-19 pandemic. He described really his ain mother successful New York was “afraid to locomotion outside” owed to reported attacks connected aged Asian women.

“In that context, erstwhile I unfastened up nan comments to a video and spot comments imitating your catchphrases aliases reside patterns, past spot that nan group doing it are virtually each non-Asian American men, it rubs maine nan incorrect way,” nan cook wrote.

Despite nan disagreement, López-Alt suggested a willingness to move forward. He offered to collaborate pinch Ng connected a video, provided they could talk nan “nuances of this alternatively analyzable issue” earlier sharing a repast together.