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MasterChef Australia contestant, Sarah Tiong, called out an interaction she had with the host of Australian radio station Triple M Sunraysia, labelling it "racism."
Tiong, who has a Malaysian Chinese mother, was born in Sydney, Australia.
Greeted her with "ni hao ma"
On Jun. 10, Tiong uploaded two Instagram stories, claiming that the host had greeted her by trying to speak Mandarin, saying: "Ni hao ma."
Tiong said: "This is racism. What an insensitive, tone deaf thing to say. Please, check yourself and do better."
Radio host tried to speak Cantonese too
When a follower questioned why the encounter was racist, Tiong explained that the radio host had assumed she identified as a Chinese and speaks Mandarin.
"Even if I have referenced such heritage or knowledge in the past, it is privileged and ignorant to assume anything about me based on the colour of my skin.
It is rude and privileged to assume that I understand that Asian language, just because I appear of that descent."
Tiong also revealed that the radio host had subsequently tried speaking Cantonese with her.
"The mere presumption that I speak or want to speak Mandarin or Cantonese with you followed by the flippant dismissal of distinguishing the two different languages is racist," stated Tiong.
A Triple M Sunraysia spokesperson responded to the controversy, saying via news.com.au: "Triple M Sunraysia unreservedly apologises for the offence caused by comments made to Sarah Tiong off-air this morning."
MasterChef judge backs her up
MasterChef Australia judge, Melissa Leong, also commented on this incident.
Leong said in an Instagram story that the encounter Tiong faced was a "mere daily occurrence for many POC (people of colour)".
"It is not funny, or clever. It just illustrates how deep rooted racial toxicity is in this country, and anyone with a voice in media should know better."
Top images from Sarah Tiong/Instagram.