Local TV personality Lalla Hirayama faced backlash on Tuesday for posting a TikTok parody video of a coloured woman singing "2 Legit 2 Quit".
In the now-deleted post, Hirayama is using a voiceover of an old video where a coloured woman singing an adapted version of "2 Legit 2 Quit" by MC Hammer.
Hirayama is seen jumping between a two-way conversation and pulling faces in an attempt to make the video funny.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/Lalla_Hirayama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lalla_Hirayamarun out of ideas, she decides to make Coloured women the butt end of her pathetic jokes. pic.twitter.com/HZ0hIlheKj
— ContainsNuts (@NutsContains)
Following the video making its way to Twitter, the "LallaLand" host was called out by users for the use of the audio in the video as it reinforces stereotypes regarding coloured woman for a "cheap laugh".
There's no wiggle room here. As a woman who's not Coloured, you chose to jump on here and mimic Coloured women with the most harmful of stereotypes for laughs. This is gross and fucking violent even idc idc idc
— NarionCM (@CmNarion) April 14, 2020
This is an incredibly insensitive and cruel thing to post but I guess coloured people don’t matter to anyone in this country
— Beth💟🗨️ (@b3thmemes) April 14, 2020
This is unacceptable! This is not funny! Are likes and retweets really this important to you?
— Irma G (@IrmaG) April 14, 2020
Aren't you.. Not Coloured? So embarrassing.
— Beyonka 🌈 (@beyonka_fierce) April 14, 2020
Lalla, this is not ok. Mocking coloured women, their behaviour and accent, should not be how we make our followers laugh 😔 I’m quite disappointed in this type of content 💔
— Marisa Calvert (@justReesie) April 14, 2020
Twitter user @LingDeeYoh was one of the people who addressed her video as being problematic and said: "The TikTok from Lalla is not cute or funny. We try in so many ways to not be caricatures and stereotypes. She is neither Coloured, not that it would make it any better. It's vile and ugly. If you find it funny good for you and proceed to unfriend me."
The tik tok from Lalla is not cute or funny
— Ling Hottentot Dior (@LingDeeYoh) April 14, 2020
We try in so many ways to not be caricatures and stereotypes.
She is neither Coloured, not that it would make it any better.
It's vile and ugly. If you find it funny good for you and proceed to unfriend me.
After receiving a lot of heat in her mentions, Hirayama tried to explain why she thinks her video is okay, equating to people making fun of Asian people.
Coloured people are literally telling you it’s not ok. And yet you still come here with this dom kak. 🙄 Since you have NO idea of the nuances of being coloured, surely you should take what people have said and corrected yourself?
— Taurus Tief (@the_missmelis) April 14, 2020
However, many users disagreed with her and she subsequently went on a blocking spree.
1. She makes a derogatory video on TikTok & posts it as “comedy”.
— Marisa Calvert (@justReesie) April 14, 2020
2. I tell her i am disappointed in the type of content.
3. I catch a block.
These are your favourite celebrities and influencers people ☺️ pic.twitter.com/3yNQu7Cowr
Lmimp yurre meire
— Ling Hottentot Dior (@LingDeeYoh) April 14, 2020
It dont change the vid
And the tepid defence of it
Spineless jellyfish pic.twitter.com/tEsHSAkEpI
Blocking me doesn't make it less disgusting.... pic.twitter.com/FIQViGMliy
— Ill-Yas (@illmaticcpt) April 14, 2020
This kind is fokken annoying, I didn't even get a chance to say anything to her Jarra pic.twitter.com/Yt1A4FvpzD
— Protect Black Trans Women ✊🏾 (@KelEldine) April 15, 2020
Hirayama has yet to issue an apology for the video at the time of publishing.