Sam Okyere, a Ghanaian broadcaster, told the news that he was going through hardships after the controversy, but the public reaction was cold.
On the 19th, a video titled ‘The Truth Buried in the Coffin (feat. Sam Okyere)’ was uploaded to the YouTube channel ‘PD’s Notebook’. This video features an interview with Sam Okyere, who has been on hiatus for about two years after the controversy.
In August 2020, Sam Okchee posted an article criticizing the Uijeongbu High School graduation photo, which parodied the Kwanjjak Boys, as “very objectionable behavior from a black person’s perspective.” In the process, a picture of a public student’s face was released, and the hashtag ‘teakpop’, which has an offensive meaning of K-pop, using words like ‘ignorance’, caused controversy.
The graduation photos from Uijeongbu High School drew a lot of attention every year with various parodies about politics, society and culture. From the perspective of Sam Okchee, a black man, it can be unpleasant to see students parodying their own culture. However, the main response was that the criticism of young students’ behavior as racial discrimination was excessive.
Sam Okyeri began to evolve by posting an apology within a day after domestic netizens’ criticism of his SNS posts poured in. However, in an interview with the BBC a week later, the interview was slightly different from the apology, causing disappointment and anger.
The debate was further heated by the highlight of Sam Okyere’s past actions. In the past, Sam Okchuri is known to have done an eye-opening act as well as sexually harassing comments. Sam Okyere suspended all activities in the face of fierce criticism.
Sam Okchee-ri, who appeared on YouTube after a long time, actively explained the controversy in the past. First, about judging Uijeongbu High School’s graduation photos, he said, “(Students) try to laugh and have fun, but I think there is a serious side to it.” It was short. In my mind, the dongsaengs were very good, but if they hadn’t painted their faces, it would have been perfect, but there was a misunderstanding because I couldn’t express my feelings well.”
Regarding the act of gouging out eyes, a derogatory gesture for Asians in the past, he apologized, “There was an eyebrow competition in Spain. We said let’s try it together. From an Asian perspective, I think the you can kind of think that just by looking at the picture. I’m really sorry.” he did
Regarding the argument that he agreed to sexual harassment in a comment that was exchanged with an acquaintance over a picture taken with actress Park Eun-hye in the past, he argued that “a joke with a friend caused a misunderstanding.”
Sam Okchee-ri also admitted to the pain caused by malicious comments and living hardships as a result of the interruption of broadcasting. He said, “There were a lot of swear words that crossed the line. For two years, if there was no reason to go out, I hardly went out. I kept talking about it, but don’t hate me too much. I hope you will leave some nice comments.”
He also said, “To be honest, it wasn’t easy. I endured it and started talking to my friends. I have to work, can you help me? For example, if there is a small incident, you you play the role of MC. I made money by doing bit by bit. It wasn’t much,” he said.
The public reacted coldly to Sam Okyere’s explanation. Along with the response, “It seems to be a late excuse,” mainly there were responses that it was difficult to sympathize with the fact that they are experiencing hardship due to the lack of broadcasting.
(SBS Entertainment News Reporter Kim Ji-hye)
