Latest news with #JocelynChia
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Jocelyn Chia says MH370 joke backlash boosted her career
IN June 2023, Singapore-raised American comedian Jocelyn Chia stirred global outrage after she and Comedy Cellar posted an 89-second clip to TikTok and Instagram from her April 7 set, where she made light of the still-missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. A year later, she's speaking out, claiming the uproar changed her life 'for the better.' ALSO READ: Jocelyn Chia ridicules Malaysia's reaction to The 1975's stunt pulled at GVF 2023 In a recent interview with The Straits Times, she expressed 'gratitude' to Malaysia, saying, 'It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better,' she said. Come September, she'll relocate to Barcelona to chase her dream of an international comedy career, with shows lined up across Europe including Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Belgium. 'It's been a long-held dream of mine to live in Europe, to experience a beach lifestyle,' she said. The MH370 joke controversy sparked a wave of hate comments, saw the Comedy Cellar's website hacked, and even led to calls from Malaysian authorities for an Interpol red notice. The backlash escalated to diplomatic levels, with Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan apologising for Chia's 'horrendous comments' and stating that she 'does not speak for Singaporeans.' Chia, who had been hosting broadcasts for IBM for two years, was dropped following a complaint from the company's Malaysian office. A scheduled performance at another New York club was also cancelled. 'I wasn't trying to offend anybody. I was just doing my job. 'It is all about context, intent and delivery,' she said. The joke itself wasn't new. According to Chia, it had been part of a longer set on Singapore-Malaysia rivalry that she'd performed for over a year. Known for her high-energy delivery and razor-sharp takes on cultural identity and migration, she insists the bit was misunderstood outside the context of New York's unfiltered stand-up scene. Though she now acknowledges that silence wasn't the best response, she prioritised her well-being. 'I was in Colorado doing a show and enjoying the mountains. I didn't want to worry about what's going on,' she recalls. 'I avoided reading online comments during that period.' She found strength in motivational speaker Tony Robbins' philosophy. 'This is happening for me, not to me' became her personal mantra. 'In hindsight, I should have addressed the furore immediately by clarifying the joke's intent and explaining my New York-style comedy standards,' she says. Despite the criticism from comedians in Singapore and Malaysia, her profile rose in the United States. 'One comic even praised my ability to 'jiu-jitsu' a cancellation attempt and turn things to my favour,' she adds. She landed appearances on Fox News, U.S. radio shows, and podcasts. She was even offered a six-week comedy residency in Japan and is currently on an Asia tour that includes stops in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan. She performed in Singapore on May 21 and her journey is far from over.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘Thank you, Malaysia' — Jocelyn Chia says MH370 joke backlash boosted her career
IN June 2023, Singapore-raised American comedian Jocelyn Chia stirred global outrage after she and Comedy Cellar posted an 89-second clip to TikTok and Instagram from her April 7 set, where she made light of the still-missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. A year later, she's speaking out, claiming the uproar changed her life 'for the better.' ALSO READ: Jocelyn Chia ridicules Malaysia's reaction to The 1975's stunt pulled at GVF 2023 In a recent interview with The Straits Times, she expressed 'gratitude' to Malaysia, saying, 'It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better,' she said. Come September, she'll relocate to Barcelona to chase her dream of an international comedy career, with shows lined up across Europe including Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Belgium. 'It's been a long-held dream of mine to live in Europe, to experience a beach lifestyle,' she said. The MH370 joke controversy sparked a wave of hate comments, saw the Comedy Cellar's website hacked, and even led to calls from Malaysian authorities for an Interpol red notice. The backlash escalated to diplomatic levels, with Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan apologising for Chia's 'horrendous comments' and stating that she 'does not speak for Singaporeans.' Chia, who had been hosting broadcasts for IBM for two years, was dropped following a complaint from the company's Malaysian office. A scheduled performance at another New York club was also cancelled. 'I wasn't trying to offend anybody. I was just doing my job. 'It is all about context, intent and delivery,' she said. The joke itself wasn't new. According to Chia, it had been part of a longer set on Singapore-Malaysia rivalry that she'd performed for over a year. Known for her high-energy delivery and razor-sharp takes on cultural identity and migration, she insists the bit was misunderstood outside the context of New York's unfiltered stand-up scene. Though she now acknowledges that silence wasn't the best response, she prioritised her well-being. 'I was in Colorado doing a show and enjoying the mountains. I didn't want to worry about what's going on,' she recalls. 'I avoided reading online comments during that period.' She found strength in motivational speaker Tony Robbins' philosophy. 'This is happening for me, not to me' became her personal mantra. 'In hindsight, I should have addressed the furore immediately by clarifying the joke's intent and explaining my New York-style comedy standards,' she says. Despite the criticism from comedians in Singapore and Malaysia, her profile rose in the United States. 'One comic even praised my ability to 'jiu-jitsu' a cancellation attempt and turn things to my favour,' she adds. She landed appearances on Fox News, U.S. radio shows, and podcasts. She was even offered a six-week comedy residency in Japan and is currently on an Asia tour that includes stops in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan. She performed in Singapore on May 21 and her journey is far from over.
Rakyat Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rakyat Post
Jocelyn Chia Grateful To Malaysia For 'Improving' Her Comedy Career Abroad
Subscribe to our FREE Singapore-born comedian Jocelyn Chia who got into trouble for making an infamous joke about MH370 in 2023 is grateful to Malaysia for changing the trajectory of her career for the better. READ MORE: Now two years after the incident, Chia spoke to After her joke went viral, she received condemnation from Malaysia and Singapore. The Singaporean government distanced themselves from her, adding that she didn't speak for all Singaporeans. READ MORE: The viral TikTok clip featuring the infamous joke was also removed from the platform. READ MORE: Additionally, she lost some comedy gigs, including her role as a regular broadcast host for IBM, the American tech corporation. On top of that, the Malaysian police requested Interpol to track her down. READ MORE: Chia said she wasn't trying to offend anyone and was just doing her job. She added she has no regrets and has no intention to apologize for the joke. It is all about context, intent, and delivery. Jocelyn Chia However, she admitted in hindsight that she should have addressed the backlash immediately by clarifying the joke's intent and explaining her New York-style comedy style that's hard hitting with unapologetically bold punchlines. Instead, she kept silent and prioritized her mental health. At the time, she was in Colorado doing a show and enjoying the mountains and didn't want to worry about what's going on. READ MORE: READ MORE: While she was criticised by some comedians from Malaysia and Singapore, she gained respect and new-found recognition from her American peers. One of them praised her for being able to jiujitsu a cancellation attempt and turn things in her favour. Despite losing gigs, other doors opened for her. She was invited as a panellist on a comedy segment on Fox News and appeared on American radio and podcast shows. She was also offered a six-week comedy residency in Japan in 2024. Currently, she's now on her Asia tour with booked shows in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan. She would be relocating to Barcelona in September to embark on her international comedy career, with gigs in Switzerland, Poland, Germany, and Belgium. Chia said it has been a long dream of hers to live in Europe and experience a beach lifestyle. It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better. Jocelyn Chia Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jocelyn Chia's MH370 joke fallout: ‘It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia,' says Singapore-born comedian
SINGAPORE, May 21 — In 2023, a Singapore-raised US comedian found herself at the centre of an international storm over a controversial joke about the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Jocelyn Chia, once a lawyer and now a stand-up comic known for her high-energy, bold routines, was branded 'comedy's bad girl' by Fox News and made headlines worldwide, including in The New York Times, CNN and the BBC. The incident began when Comedy Cellar, a famous New York comedy club, posted an 89-second clip of Chia's April 7, 2023, set to TikTok and Instagram on June 5. The clip included a joke referencing the mysterious 2014 disappearance of MH370. Although the joke was part of a routine she had performed for over a year, playing on the nuanced rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia, the clip sparked fierce backlash. Hate comments flooded in, Comedy Cellar's website was hacked, and protesters rallied demanding an apology. Malaysia's government even threatened her with an Interpol red notice. Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan publicly condemned the joke and apologised for Chia's 'horrendous comments,' emphasising that she 'does not speak for Singaporeans.' The fallout extended to Chia's career: IBM, where she had been a regular broadcast host for two years, terminated her contract after a complaint from its Malaysian office, and a scheduled performance at another New York comedy venue was cancelled. Despite the uproar, Chia stood her ground. Speaking to The Straits Times, she said she 'wasn't trying to offend anybody. I was just doing my job.' She defended the joke's context and delivery, explaining, 'It is all about context, intent and delivery.' The Boston-born comic, who attended St Nicholas Girls' School and National Junior College in Singapore, said she has no intention of apologising. In hindsight, Chia admitted she should have addressed the backlash more quickly by clarifying her intent and explaining the New York comedy style — 'hard-hitting, unapologetically bold punchlines' — to avoid misunderstandings. Instead, she chose silence to protect her mental health. 'I was in Colorado doing a show and enjoying the mountains. I didn't want to worry about what's going on,' she recalled. 'I avoided reading online comments during that period.' Drawing strength from US self-help guru Tony Robbins, Chia adopted the mantra: 'This is happening for me, not to me.' What initially seemed like a crisis transformed into an opportunity. While some comedians from Singapore and Malaysia criticised her, her US peers praised her resilience. One comic even complimented her ability to 'jiu-jitsu a cancellation attempt and turn things to my favour.' Her newfound notoriety led to a Fox News comedy panel spot, appearances on US radio and podcasts, and a six-week comedy residency in Japan in 2024. Currently on an Asia tour with shows booked across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan, Chia plans to relocate to Barcelona in September to expand her international career, eyeing gigs in Switzerland, Poland, Germany, and Belgium. 'It's been a long-held dream of mine to live in Europe, to experience a beach lifestyle,' she said. Ironically, Chia reflected, 'I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better.'
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Jocelyn Chia's MH370 joke fallout: ‘It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia,' says Singapore-born comedian
SINGAPORE, May 21 — In 2023, a Singapore-raised US comedian found herself at the centre of an international storm over a controversial joke about the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Jocelyn Chia, once a lawyer and now a stand-up comic known for her high-energy, bold routines, was branded 'comedy's bad girl' by Fox News and made headlines worldwide, including in The New York Times, CNN and the BBC. The incident began when Comedy Cellar, a famous New York comedy club, posted an 89-second clip of Chia's April 7, 2023, set to TikTok and Instagram on June 5. The clip included a joke referencing the mysterious 2014 disappearance of MH370. Although the joke was part of a routine she had performed for over a year, playing on the nuanced rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia, the clip sparked fierce backlash. Hate comments flooded in, Comedy Cellar's website was hacked, and protesters rallied demanding an apology. Malaysia's government even threatened her with an Interpol red notice. Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan publicly condemned the joke and apologised for Chia's 'horrendous comments,' emphasising that she 'does not speak for Singaporeans.' The fallout extended to Chia's career: IBM, where she had been a regular broadcast host for two years, terminated her contract after a complaint from its Malaysian office, and a scheduled performance at another New York comedy venue was cancelled. Despite the uproar, Chia stood her ground. Speaking to The Straits Times, she said she 'wasn't trying to offend anybody. I was just doing my job.' She defended the joke's context and delivery, explaining, 'It is all about context, intent and delivery.' The Boston-born comic, who attended St Nicholas Girls' School and National Junior College in Singapore, said she has no intention of apologising. In hindsight, Chia admitted she should have addressed the backlash more quickly by clarifying her intent and explaining the New York comedy style — 'hard-hitting, unapologetically bold punchlines' — to avoid misunderstandings. Instead, she chose silence to protect her mental health. 'I was in Colorado doing a show and enjoying the mountains. I didn't want to worry about what's going on,' she recalled. 'I avoided reading online comments during that period.' Drawing strength from US self-help guru Tony Robbins, Chia adopted the mantra: 'This is happening for me, not to me.' What initially seemed like a crisis transformed into an opportunity. While some comedians from Singapore and Malaysia criticised her, her US peers praised her resilience. One comic even complimented her ability to 'jiu-jitsu a cancellation attempt and turn things to my favour.' Her newfound notoriety led to a Fox News comedy panel spot, appearances on US radio and podcasts, and a six-week comedy residency in Japan in 2024. Currently on an Asia tour with shows booked across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan, Chia plans to relocate to Barcelona in September to expand her international career, eyeing gigs in Switzerland, Poland, Germany, and Belgium. 'It's been a long-held dream of mine to live in Europe, to experience a beach lifestyle,' she said. Ironically, Chia reflected, 'I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better.'
