S'porean livestreamers issue sarcastic apology after backlash over vulgar tirade

Two Singaporean livestreamers received backlash over a sarcastic apology video they issued in response to criticisms over an earlier vulgarity-laced tirade.

In videos posted on the duo's joint Tiktok account, Winnie Heng and Vadalene Eng appeared to apologise to fans, with Heng even appearing to cry, before she revealed that the apology was fake.

"They want us to like that," Heng said, wiping her tears with a tissue while pretending to apologise to what she referred to as "C* people" for cancelling their orders.

She said sarcastically: "Why did I scold them? I should have gone home and [cursed them with a voodoo doll]. Why did I scold them in their face?"

Her response was met with laughter from Eng and another woman in the video.

Heng's expression then changed as she continued: "Why would Winnie bother about you guys?"

The pair then claimed to be "Singapore's best livestreamers".

In a separate clip, Heng also told her audience: "You wait long long for limpeh to say sorry."

"Limpeh" means "your father" in Hokkien.

Double controversy

The fake apology was apparently in response to criticisms that the pair had earlier received, after they hurled vulgarities at some customers during a livestream.

The customers had allegedly cancelled orders at about 3am for highly sought-after crystals.

In an Instagram story on Aug. 14, Eng clarified that the pair had spent two months preparing for the livestream sale, which she said she they hosted despite being sick.

Thousands of people supposedly tuned in.

The customers they had called out had allegedly snatched up six to seven pieces of items during the livestream, then tried to cancel four to five of them when it was over.

"Is that really fair to everyone who waited?" Eng asked.

Clips of the rant circulated on social media.

"Go out and get hit by a car," Heng said in Mandarin.

"I curse you from the bottom of my heart. From the bottom of Winnie Heng’s heart."

The duo also used a string of expletives directed at customers.

Their mock apology was not taken kindly by online users, with many criticising their lack of contrition.

According to Stomp, commenters who viewed the "apology" live as it was streamed pointed out the duo's "embarrassing" behaviour.

"Confidence is attractive. Thinking vulgar language equals intelligence is just embarrassing. Calling yourself the best influencers while insulting people who cancel orders... that’s certainly one way to influence people — straight into cancelling you," one said.

"Still have the audacity to (say) such things after the incident."

On a repost of the videos on Instagram account "sgspilltea", one commenter wrote: "They thought this is funny."

"Hmm... maybe everyone should buy and cancel order non-stop," another suggested.