Nigel Ng, the Malaysian UK-based YouTuber with just over 3 million subscribers, has apologised for featuring Mike Chen, face of the Strictly Dumpling channel, in a video. Chen, a Chinese influencer based in the US, is a vocal Beijing critique on his Twitter account, and has previously voiced concern over the treatment of Uighur minorities in Xinjiang as well as opposed the controversial Hong Kong national security law that was passed last year.
Ng claimed he wasn't aware of Chen's political views and deleted the video off his channel after some users reported the content. In his apology, Ng said: "During the process of working with the content creator, I wasn't aware of his political thoughts and his past incorrect remarks about China. This is my negligence, and I will be more careful when I make content in the future."
Ng added that his channel has just "entered China" and urged users to stop reposting content related to the deleted video.
According to an AFP report, Chen decried the decision to delete the video and said it illustrated China's growing sway over artists beyond its borders. "I do think that what happened here is the result of the Chinese Communist Party's censorship, even if it wasn't direct censorship," he said.
Following Ng's apology, many fans pledged to unsubscribe from his channel, and many took to social media to express their disappointment.
As someone who enjoyed Uncle Roger videos and even made a podcast episode on it I understand his anxiety when faced with the "Anti-China" label but got to say the bigotry and disowning behavior is of the exact opposite spirit from what Nigel has been promoting with his videos. https://t.co/7aNrqHqxci
— Caiwei Chen (@CaiweiC) January 12, 2021
A new cartoon by Chinese-Australian artist @Badiucao after "Uncle Roger" comic @MrNigelNg apologised for a collaboration with a fellow YouTuber who criticised China. https://t.co/GUSaBsgqVl pic.twitter.com/TxHBPNqym4
— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) January 13, 2021
Do you think Uncle Roger sprinkles MSG on the boot before he licks it?
— The Joxter (@AnonJoxter) January 13, 2021
Ng is known for playing the Uncle Roger character on YouTube which shot to fame from critiquing various iterations of fried rice.
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