Singaporean influencer Xiaxue apologises for viral clip on Thai and Vietnamese women, says it was taken out of context

The clip, which was edited from a video on the YouTube channel Ladies First, showed Xiaxue giving her responses to a question posed by a viewer.

Singaporean influencer Xiaxue, whose real name is Wendy Cheng, recently found herself facing significant backlash from the Thai and Vietnamese communities, after a viral clip in which she gave her responses to the question: "Why are Singaporean men so attracted to women who are from Thailand and Vietnam? The amount of friends that I have who had their exes cheat on them with these women is astronomical. What do you think they have that we don’t?"

In the clip, Xiaxue is seen saying "this is a huge issue" and implying that those women are of a lower status, adding that they are from a “less well-off country” and may work in a job that is “generally frowned upon”, that is, sex workers.

 "Because you're the one providing for their lifestyle, so you get to say (and dictate their actions)."

In an apology video posted on Saturday (Jul 27), Xiaxue claimed that the clip had been taken out of context.

"You guys know me. If I have an opinion, I say it and I do not apologise. This time round, I'm apologising because I realised that what was posted indeed sounds horrible. But that is because it was completely taken out of context. The original long-form YouTube video...is a lot less offensive. It was edited into a very short clip, so the meaning has completely changed."

With regards to the ranking of statuses, she clarified that she meant that when Singaporean men date Thai women who work at siam diu clubs (Thai-themed nightclubs) or foreign women who are sex workers, these men think they are better than the girls. She also emphasised that she was not referring to all Thai women when she made her initial statement.

"If you're offended by that statement, then there's nothing I can really do because it's totally true. Like have you seen [the movie] Pretty Woman? Richard Gere thinks he is better than Julia Roberts because she is a prostitute and he is a rich guy dating a prostitute."

She goes on to address those who were offended by her saying that Thailand is "a less well-off country" causing some girls to do jobs that are generally frowned upon. She acknowledged while there are rich Thai people who are wealthier than Singaporeans, there are also many Thai citizens living in poverty.

"Many of the girls there realise that if they work regular jobs, they can only earn very little money. And the fastest way to accumulate wealth is to go into the sex trade. This may not be pleasant to hear...but unfortunately, it's true."

Xiaxue's video has garnered a mixed response with detractors saying it doesn't feel like an apology.

One fan wrote: "Actually, I was waiting for your sincere apology, but today, after listening to your excuses, I feel very disappointed because they are excuses that make you look good rather than making you feel guilty about what you said."

The original clip and the long-form video it originated from have since been deleted from Titan Digital Media's Ladies First pages.