A U.S.-based comedian, Jocelyn Chia, originally from Singapore, has ignited controversy with a joke referencing the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. During a stand-up routine, Chia quipped that Malaysian airplanes "cannot fly," alluding to the unsolved 2014 vanishing of the flight. This remark has drawn sharp criticism from Malaysian officials, who are considering legal action against Chia for offensive online content and insulting speech. Singaporean officials have also distanced themselves from Chia's comments, emphasizing that she no longer holds Singaporean citizenship and that her statement does not reflect their views.
The Boeing 777, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, vanished from radar on March 8, 2014, shortly after departing Malaysian airspace. The fate of the 239 passengers and crew remains a mystery, making it one of aviation's most perplexing unsolved cases. Chia insists her joke wasn't intended to mock the tragedy or its victims, but rather to highlight the historical tensions between Malaysia and Singapore. In her routine, she characterized Malaysia as a "developing" nation trailing behind the "first-world" status of Singapore.
A young Malaysian child poses in front of a message board and well wishes to people involved with the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner MH370 in Sepang, Malaysia, outside Kuala Lumpur, on March 16, 2014.
Comedian Jocelyn Chia performs during her appearance at Flappers Comedy Club and Restaurant Burbank in Burbank, California, on March 29, 2022.
Malaysian authorities intend to investigate Chia under laws concerning online offensiveness and hate speech. However, Interpol has stated that it has not received a request from Malaysia regarding Chia and that any request would need to adhere to their constitutional guidelines, which prohibit actions of a religious, racial, military, or political nature. Additionally, requests related to freedom of expression would be evaluated considering international human rights standards. Chia argues her joke has been misconstrued in the context of social media, emphasizing its success in other performances, particularly in the U.S., where she believes audiences are more receptive to edgier humor. She contrasts this with the nascent stand-up comedy scene in Asia, where such humor is less common.
Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's foreign affairs minister, appears at a press conference after a meeting with Mauro Vieira, Brazil's foreign minister, at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 17, 2023.
