Malaysian-born comedian Ronny Chieng, known for his work as a senior correspondent on “The Daily Show,” recently criticized Singaporeans on his Instagram story. He characterized them as “small island Karens” with a limited perspective on the world. His post, shared on March 21, has sparked a variety of reactions among netizens.

Chieng’s statement, which described Singaporeans as being overly confident and opinionated despite having little global exposure, has been met with both criticism and support. Some Reddit users expressed disappointment in the comedian’s remarks, while others acknowledged the validity of his opinion. The Instagram story was shared on Reddit, where it generated a lively discussion.

Guess his mother is a Karen

Captioned: “In Singapore visiting my Mom. She hates being on the internet so please don’t look at this photo.“

Some critics questioned Chieng’s motives for his harsh comments, pointing out that he has a history in Singapore. They expressed surprise that someone who had studied and had family connections in the country would hold such a strong vitriol towards it.

On the other hand, supporters of Chieng argue that his background in Singapore has given him the right to his own perspective of the country. His experience as a student and having family there, according to some netizens, has given him a unique viewpoint on the culture and society.

Despite the mixed opinions, it is clear that Ronny Chieng’s statement has provoked a strong reaction from the Singaporean community. With the power of social media, the conversation surrounding the comedian’s opinions has sparked a broader dialogue on the issue of cultural perceptions and freedom of speech.