An introduction for a contestant from Assam on a dance show on TV with the words "momo", "chowmein" and "gibberish Chinese" has triggered a massive backlash, including from the state's Chief Minister with many calling the performance by host Raghav Juyal racist and cringe-worthy.
An undated clip from the reality show Dance Deeewane Season 3 has gone viral on social media that shows Mr Juyal introducing a young contestant with the contentious monologue.
Racism!@TheRaghav_Juyal introducing Gunjan Sinha of Assam in #DanceDeewane3 of @ColorsTV with "Momo", "Chinese" and celebs like @remodsouza, @MadhuriDixit have no objection in it.
— Ron Bikash Gaurav (@RonBikashGaurav) November 15, 2021
People of Assam is not Chinese, yet such shows always do racism comments.
When will it stop? pic.twitter.com/cOTA8s8nvy
The clip drew hundreds of reactions on Twitter, with many slamming the content and the presenter. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also condemned the skit.
It has come to my notice that a popular reality show host has used racist rhetoric against a young participant from Guwahati. This is shameful and totally unacceptable. Racism has no place in our country and we should all condem it unequivocally.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 16, 2021
Issuing a clarification on Instagram, Raghav Juyal said the "momo", "chowmein" and other gibberish words were a reference to the contestant's self-professed talent of conversing in Chinese.
"It's unfair and not good for my mental health to see this short clip without the right context. When this contestant came to the show, she announced that she had a talent of speaking Chinese. My performance was based on that," Raghav Juyal said.
The explanation, however, convinced few people, with one Twitter user posting: "The show host's explanation over the clip is weirdest. He says the child knew Chinese and the introduction was based on that. Out there on the streets, such viral jokes have real consequences for the common person from the northeast... Even if the child spoke gibberish Chinese, and her family gave consent to use that context, the host appeared to be ignorant of the problems that already exist with such connotations. Hence the need to educate. Just because one can do, doesn't mean one should. Discretion is key."
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