Actress Vivian Sung faces backlash for her ‘proud to be Chinese’ apology
TAIPEI: Taiwanese actress Vivian Sung is facing a backlash after apologising to social media users that she is “proud to be Chinese.”
Social media users had discovered that during an interview in 2015, Vivian had indicated that her favourite country is Taiwan.
Vivian appears in the current box- office hit Hello Mr Billionaire.
During the interview, Vivian also said that she would like to remain in Taiwan with her family.
The re- circulated video caused a stir.
In her apology on Weibo, Vivian wrote: “I am very much shaken by the attention I have been getting lately. I am a Chinese girl born in the 1990s. Taiwan is my hometown, China is my home country. I am deeply sorry for my mindlessness during the (2015) interview.”
Added Vivian: “I owe my opportunity to work in my home country of China to people’s fondness of me in recent years.
“I have been deeply fascinated by the histories and peoples of different cities,. The more I learn, the more respectful and passionate I have become toward my home country.
Describing the dichotomy of her loyalties, Vivian also wrote: “Taiwan was where I was born, but my home country of China is where my dreams came true. The 31 incentives for Taiwanese in particular catapulted my career and gave me many learning opportunities.”
Striking a note for reconciliation, Vivian wrote: “I am proud to be Chinese. I love my hometown and my home country. People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will forever be one family.”
However, her apology has backfired, as it apparently failed to win her the hearts of Taiwanese — and even social media users in China, some of whom ridiculed that the statement was “too contrived.”
“Do you think Chinese are retarded?” scoffed one disgruntled user of social media.