Hong Kong TV drama’s use of ‘brownface’ to depict ‘Filipino’ domestic helper sparks outrage, criticism of portrayal of minorities in media
- Episode of Barrack O’Karma 1968 features local couple who found their domestic helper, Louisa, to be ‘spooky’ and suspected her of using voodoo
- Actress Franchesca Wong, who played Louisa, earns praise for performance despite video of her brushing dark make-up over her leg
A television show featuring a Canadian-born Chinese actress who darkened her skin to portray a Filipino domestic helper has sparked heated criticism of Hong Kong’s depiction of minorities in mainstream entertainment.
Actress Franchesca Wong plays the character of domestic helper “Louisa” in a TVB series titled Barrack O’Karma 1968.
The episode, which aired on Tuesday, centred on a local couple who hired Louisa as a helper but found her behaviour “spooky” and suspected her of using voodoo.
Wong faced backlash for an Instagram video of her brushing dark make-up all over her leg, in which she said “I am suntanning right now, sir” in a mocking accent.
The video has been taken down.
Wong’s actions were regarded as “brownface”, in which a light-skinned individual attempts to portray a person of colour or marginalised group by using make-up to darken their skin.
