Viral Asian TikToker Sparks Controversy Over Alleged Blackface

Popular China-based TikToker lahong (@lahong22) is best known for their videos in which they film how they spend their time while riding the train. It usually features lahong doing outlandish activities that surprise their fellow passengers.

@lahong22

how to spend 8 hours on the train in China #chineselanguage #chinatravel #chinatrainsystem #chinatrain

♬ 原聲 – lahong

Their most recent upload was another train video. This time, lahong decided to cosplay as a “cute character.”

To transform into the character, lahong applied makeup with a foundation that was a few shades too dark. Additionally, they added multicolored pipe cleaners to their cleaners and even made their nose bigger to transform into In The Night Garden character Upsy Daisy.

While lahong’s video went viral with 328.7K views at the time of writing, it was reposted by Zuubb (@zahu1a), in which it garnered 24.5M views at the time of writing!

@lahong22

how to spend time on China’s train travel china cosplay when i try to do the cosplay makeup train

♬ 原聲 – lahong – lahong

@zahu1a

Gi** thời gian khi đi tàu:)) #giaitri #funny

♬ nhạc nền – Zuubb – Zuubb

The comment sections on both videos were similar, though. Most comments marveled at lahong’s lack of social anxiety, some admired the handsome appearance of the passenger next to lahong, and others appreciated the unexpected throwback with reference to the 2007 British children’s TV show.

Yet, many netizens were also stunned by the actions in the video. They couldn’t ignore that lahong’s application of dark makeup resembled that of Blackface.

When non-Black individuals paint themselves in order to appear Black, this is an act called Blackface. Blackface has a historically negative context as those playing the Black characters usually were based on caricatures rather than any real person and perpetuated negative stereotypes.

Upsy Daisy is officially described as “a happy and optimistic dolly. She loves nothing more than to dance through the garden and often convinces other character to join in. One of her favourite things is her bed, which has a mind of its own and can often be seen chasing her around the garden.” While she appears to be a ragdoll, Upsy Daisy has a dark brown complexion, and her colorful hair resembles locks.