Latest news with #Singapore-raised
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.
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.'
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Singapore-raised comic Jocelyn Chia says fallout from MH370 joke changed her life
Singapore-raised American comic Jocelyn Chia says the hate she received from her MH370 joke opened doors to new opportunities. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN SINGAPORE – Dubbed 'comedy's bad girl' by American TV news channel Fox News, she made headlines in international news outlets such as The New York Times, CNN and BBC after her stand-up joke about the ill-fated MH370 flight went viral in 2023. Two years on, Singapore-raised American comic Jocelyn Chia is still trying to shake off the 'Malaysia Airlines joker' label. The former lawyer, who is in her 40s, tells The Straits Times that the tasteless gag she made at New York's popular comedy club Comedy Cellar was not even new. It was part of a routine about the nuanced rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia that she had included in her live sets for more than a year, says Chia, whose parents and younger siblings reside in Singapore. Known for her sharp wit and high-energy routines, the New York-based comedienne's stand-up content typically revolves around her personal migration experiences, social observations and Singapore-United States cultural comparisons. When Comedy Cellar and Chia posted a clip of an April 7, 2023 set – which included her making light of the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines' MH370 airplane – to TikTok and Instagram on June 5 that year, the 89-second video prompted an international backlash. Chia received hate comments, Comedy Cellar's website was hacked, protesters demanded an apology, and she was threatened with an Interpol red notice by the Malaysian government. Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan weighed in and apologised for her 'horrendous comments' in a tweet, stressing that Chia 'does not speak for Singaporeans'. The fallout saw Chia getting 'cancelled' by IBM. She had been a regular broadcast host for the American tech corporation for two years, but a complaint from its Malaysian office saw her contract terminated. A show she was scheduled to perform at another New York comedy club was also axed. But Chia – who is in town as the headline act for comedy show Gelato & Giggles at local restaurant-club Rasa on May 21 – says she has no regrets. She has not apologised for the joke and has no intention of doing so. 'I wasn't trying to offend anybody. I was just doing my job,' says the Boston-born bachelorette who attended St Nicholas Girls' School and National Junior College. 'It is all about context, intent and delivery.' However, she concedes that in hindsight, she should have addressed the furore immediately by clarifying the joke's intent and explaining her New York-style comedy standards – that deliver hard-hitting, unapologetically bold punchlines – to clear up any misunderstandings. Instead, she chose to keep silent and prioritised 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,' says Chia, adding that she avoided reading online comments during that period. Drawing inspiration from American self-help guru and best-selling author Tony Robbins, she viewed the controversy as an opportunity rather than a setback. 'This is happening for me, not to me' became her mantra. While she was called out by some comedians from Singapore and Malaysia, she received new-found recognition and respect from her American peers. She adds: 'One comic even praised my ability to 'jujitsu' a cancellation attempt and turn things to my favour.' Chia was invited to be a panellist on a comedy segment on Fox News and went on American radio and podcast shows. She was also offered a six-week comedy residency in Japan in 2024 and is now on her Asia tour, where she is booked for shows in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan. She will be relocating to Barcelona in September to embark on her international comedy career, as Europe beckons with 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,' says Chia. 'It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better.' Book It/Gelato & Giggles Where: Rasa, 02-01/02 Republic Plaza Tower 1, 9 Raffles Place When: May 21, 8pm Admission: $35 (with one standard drink), $40 (with one standard drink and a scoop of gelato) Info: Go to Joanne Soh is a lifestyle correspondent at The Straits Times, with a special interest in entertainment and pop culture. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Singapore-raised comic Jocelyn Chia says controversial MH370 joke changed her life for the better
Singapore-raised American comic Jocelyn Chia says the hate she received from her MH370 joke opened doors to new opportunities. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Singapore-raised comic Jocelyn Chia says controversial MH370 joke changed her life for the better SINGAPORE – Dubbed 'comedy's bad girl' by American TV news channel Fox News, she made headlines in international news outlets such as The New York Times, CNN and BBC after her stand-up joke about the ill-fated MH370 flight went viral in 2023. Two years on, Singapore-raised American comic Jocelyn Chia is still trying to shake off the 'Malaysia Airlines joker' label. The former lawyer, who is in her 40s, tells The Straits Times that the tasteless gag she made at New York's popular comedy club Comedy Cellar was not even new. It was part of a routine about the nuanced rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia that she had included in her live sets for more than a year, says Chia, whose parents and younger siblings reside in Singapore. Known for her sharp wit and high-energy routines, the New York-based comedienne's stand-up content typically revolves around her personal migration experiences, social observations and Singapore-United States cultural comparisons. When Comedy Cellar and Chia posted a clip of an April 7, 2023 set – which included her making light of the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines' MH370 airplane – to TikTok and Instagram on June 5 that year, the 89-second video prompted an international backlash. Chia received hate comments, Comedy Cellar's website was hacked, protesters demanded an apology, and she was threatened with an Interpol red notice by the Malaysian government. Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan weighed in and apologised for her 'horrendous comments' in a tweet, stressing that Chia 'does not speak for Singaporeans'. The fallout saw Chia getting 'cancelled' by IBM. She had been a regular broadcast host for the American tech corporation for two years, but a complaint from its Malaysian office saw her contract terminated. A show she was scheduled to perform at another New York comedy club was also axed. But Chia – who is in town as the headline act for comedy show Gelato & Giggles at local restaurant-club Rasa on May 21 – says she has no regrets. She has not apologised for the joke and has no intention of doing so. 'I wasn't trying to offend anybody. I was just doing my job,' says the Boston-born bachelorette who attended St Nicholas Girls' School and National Junior College. 'It is all about context, intent and delivery.' However, she concedes that in hindsight, she should have addressed the furore immediately by clarifying the joke's intent and explaining her New York-style comedy standards – that deliver hard-hitting, unapologetically bold punchlines – to clear up any misunderstandings. Instead, she chose to keep silent and prioritised 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,' says Chia, adding that she avoided reading online comments during that period. Drawing inspiration from American self-help guru and best-selling author Tony Robbins, she viewed the controversy as an opportunity rather than a setback. 'This is happening for me, not to me' became her mantra. While she was called out by some comedians from Singapore and Malaysia, she received new-found recognition and respect from her American peers. She adds: 'One comic even praised my ability to 'jujitsu' a cancellation attempt and turn things to my favour.' Chia was invited to be a panellist on a comedy segment on Fox News and went on American radio and podcast shows. She was also offered a six-week comedy residency in Japan in 2024 and is now on her Asia tour, where she is booked for shows in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan. She will be relocating to Barcelona in September to embark on her international comedy career, as Europe beckons with 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,' says Chia. 'It's ironic, but I'm grateful to Malaysia. This incident changed my life for the better.' Book It/Gelato & Giggles Where: Rasa, 02-01/02 Republic Plaza Tower 1, 9 Raffles Place When: May 21, 8pm Admission: $35 (with one standard drink), $40 (with one standard drink and a scoop of gelato) Info: Go to Joanne Soh is a lifestyle correspondent at The Straits Times, with a special interest in entertainment and pop culture. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
