Attendees sport ‘blackface’ at company dinner & dance, UOL apologises for any offence caused

TikTok video shows eight attendees in ‘blackface’ at UOL dinner

Local property developer UOL Group has apologised after a group of attendees appeared to sport “blackface” at a company dinner and dance.

The image, which was circulated over TikTok, showed eight individuals with their faces blackened and wearing afro wigs, sunglasses and 80s-style costumes.

Notably, they were posing in front of a backdrop that had the UOL and Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) logos on it.

Attendees appear on stage in blackface during UOL & PPHG dinner & dance

Another image posted on Reddit showed what may have been the same eight people standing on stage.

According to the words behind them, they seemed to be performing for this year’s UOL and PPHG annual dinner and dance, titled “The Rhythm Of The Night”.

A website that allowed invitees to register for the event said it was held on 14 Nov at the Marina Bay Sands.

UOL apologises for blackface photo

In response to queries from Channel NewsAsia (CNA), a UOL spokesperson said it was aware of the incident.

The company sincerely apologises for any offence caused, it added.

It did not reveal who the attendees in blackface were, and if any action had been taken against them.

PPHG, which is a subsidiary of UOL, directed the queries to UOL.

Netizens outraged by incident

However, netizens were not appeased, with some saying that the individuals and company should be held accountable.

Others expressed incredulity that nobody involved thought that the get-up was a bad idea.

But a minority of netizens thought it wasn’t a big deal and people were making a mountain out of a molehill.

Also read: Ex-RI Students Apologise For ‘Blackface’ Incident After Alumnus Alfian Sa’at Shares Racial Experience

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Featured image adapted from @summer88959 on TikTok and Reddit.