Singapore shelves superheroes after backlash

A band of Singapore superheroes created to help in the coronavirus fight has been shelved after internet users criticised the campaign for being too lighthearted and for mocking the Liverpool football club.

The “Virus Vanguard” featured comic-book characters including “Dr Disinfector”, “Fake News Buster”, and “Must Always Walk Alone (MAWA) Man ”— a jibe referring to the English Premier League side’s anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone.

The initiative devised by the government and local artists was aimed at encouraging people to follow rules to combat a worsening virus outbreak, but social media quickly lit up with mockery and anger.

The government announced on its Facebook page late on Monday that the campaign was under review, while a picture of the characters disappeared and was replaced by their silhouettes.

“We have received quite a lot of feedback on the characters and we will be reviewing them.

“We are sorry if we offended anyone,” the post said.

One user described the outfit as “too lighthearted and frivolous — perhaps tone deaf even”, while another described the characters as “offensive”.

The band first appeared on Monday, the same day Singapore reported a record jump in virus cases that took its total to more than 8,000.

Fake News Buster, who according to news website CNA “wields the Mallet of Truth” in his battle against fake news, came in for special mockery.

But there was particular anger at MAWA Man, who was described in local media as a fanatical Manchester United fan who enforced social distancing using special powers to repel objects and people. Supporters of rival club Liverpool in Singapore — where Premier League football is hugely popular — set up an online petition calling for MAWA Man to be removed from the campaign, which garnered hundreds of signatures.

Mas Shafreen, the artist who created the characters, apologised on Facebook if the characters appeared insensitive. —