MCA urges MCMC to press charges against 'chicken bone' influencers

MCA has urged MCMC to initiate legal proceedings against three influencers who filmed themselves giving leftover KFC chicken bones to a homeless man.

MCA Young Women chairperson Ivone Low Yi Wen labelled the video “deeply disturbing and unacceptable” and stressed that those involved in the stunt must be held accountable for their behaviour.

She highlighted that under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, action can be taken against any online content that is offensive, indecent, or created with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass.

“This law exists to protect the public from harmful or abusive online content. (The controversial video) not only violated basic human dignity, but also sends the wrong message to others who may think exploiting the vulnerable for attention is acceptable,” Low said in a statement today.

“At the very least, these individuals should be given community service, perhaps at a homeless shelter, to truly reflect and help the very people they mocked in their video.”

Earlier today, MCMC said it has launched an investigation into the viral video, which it condemned as being exploitative and deeply unethical.

Reminding netizens not to upload or circulate provocative content that could lead to public distress and encourage unethical behaviour, the commission affirmed that the case is being probed under existing legal provisions, with firm action promised against those found guilty.

Can’t be lenient

On the apology previously issued by the influencers involved in the video, Low said such appeals for forgiveness do not negate how the video was a “poorly thought-out publicity stunt”.

“An apology made only after public backlash does not reflect true remorse. (Instead), it reflects regret for being caught and slammed online.

“The concerning issue is that if the video had not gone viral, would the perpetrators have apologised at all? It is precisely because of this that we must take legal action and not be lenient with punishment,” she added.

She also said that even if the homeless man had consented to being filmed beforehand, no one should be disrespected by being served bones in food they desperately need.

In the video, which went viral yesterday, three young men were seen enjoying a meal at a KFC outlet before placing their chicken bones in a packet of rice and wrapping the food up.

The trio then approached a man lying in an alley and gave him the food packet, which the man accepted with gratitude.

After leaving the area, the influencers then fed pieces of chicken to a dog.

One of the online personalities involved in the scorned video later claimed that the clip was filmed with the homeless man’s consent and aimed at generating “charity” content.

MCMC probes video of influencers giving KFC bones to homeless man

Influencers sorry for chicken bone stunt, say homeless man gave consent

LETTER | Punch up, not down: The cruelty behind 'content culture'