On Monday (20 July), an expat living in Singapore took to TikTok to share the horrible experience she allegedly had with a group of tourists from China.
According to the caption, Rae who has been living in Singapore for the past nine years, claimed that some Chinese tourists repeatedly took photos of her children.
“There is no excuse anymore [for] the insane entitlement of some of these tourists because it is not all,” she wrote.
In an exclusive with MS News, Rae shares that her family was having a picnic by the Empress Lawn in front of the Victoria Theatre. A group of three tourists walked up to the family and started taking pictures of the children.
Source: Anna Tarazevich on Pexels, for illustration purposes only
According to her, the tourists were saying “how cute!” as they continued snapping photos of her children.
Rae shares with MS News, “I said, ‘No, no pictures’ and ‘Please stop’ numerous times and they continued.”
Source: Margo Evardso on Pexels, for illustration purposes only
When Rae shielded her children to protect them, she thought that would be the end of the ordeal.
But the tourists went around them to the other side and continued to take even more photos.
In the video, Rae says that her children were visibly confused by the tourists’ behaviour.
Speaking to MS News, Rae shares that her 6-year-old daughter said she was scared and did not understand what was happening.
“I’m still getting questions asking why they keep doing this to us, and to be honest, I’m not sure how to respond to this.”
Source: cottonbro studio on Pexels, for illustration purposes only
Rae noted that most of the time she can “let these things go”, but when it comes to her kids, such acts are simply “too much”.
“This is not the first time, it’s been happening for years.” she says to MS News.
“However, usually when I say ‘no pictures’, they usually end up turning away, so I was very taken aback when they proceeded as they did.”
In the video, Rae claimed that another man, who was walking down the path, came towards their direction.
Without warning, the man grabbed her child’s face to take a closer look. Instinctively, Rae said she yanked her child away.
Rae clarified with MS News that this incident happened near the science museum on 19 July, a separate day from the first incident.
Source: Ron Lach on Pexels, for illustration purposes only
I don’t like my children being treated like they are so very different to everybody else.
“You may not have seen people of colour before. Even if that’s the case, you do not have the right [to continue], if somebody says no to taking pictures,” she added.
The post has garnered over 38,000 views at the time of writing.
Many netizens expressed the same disappointment and frustration felt by Rae.
Some shared similar experiences with tourists from China, claiming it is not a new problem.
Source: TikTok
A few TikTok users commended Rae for her bravery in speaking out on the matter.
Source: TikTok
However, some netizens noted that although the tourists’ actions are very unpleasant, it is not against the law to take photos of people in public.
Source: TikTok
Also read: S’pore-based Chinese education consultant claims local schools have ‘no recess’ between classes
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Featured image adapted from @raeelizabethmua on TikTok.