KUALA LUMPUR: The backlash against former Miss Malaysia Universe Samantha Katie James over her social media comments appear to be rising, with an online campaign mounted to strip her of her crown and title.
More than 15,000 people have so far signed a petition on Change.org in less than 24-hours as a show of outrage against James' comments on the riots in the United States sparked by the death of African American civilian George Floyd, under police restraint.
The petition against James claimed that she was unfit to represent Malaysia and seeks to compel the pageant runners to strip the latter of her crown and title.
The fact that the crown and title was no longer her's nevertheless did not deter the petition from invoking former Miss Malaysia Universe Elaine Daly to get involved.
The fact that the crown and title were no longer hers nevertheless did not deter the petitioners from invoking the national director of the pageant and former Miss Malaysia Universe Elaine Daly to get involved.
"Her ignorance and lack of self and privilege awareness do not reflect the Miss Universe Malaysia title and with this petition we hope she will be stripped of her title," read the petition.
The petition was updated with a posting of the Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (MUMO) statement in which MUMO had distanced itself from James and her remarks.
MUMO asserted that she has not represented the organisation since June 2018.
The petition, however, said MUMO's stand was "unsatisfactory" and said further action must be taken against James if the organisation was truly 'anti-racist' .
"If they strongly condemn all acts of racism and prejudice, they would've stripped her of her crown and title.
"Stripping James' crown and title would serve as an example that your organisation will not tolerate any forms of prejudice be it past, present or future winners," said the petition.
James, 25, has come under fire after taking to Instagram telling African Americans protesting Floyd's death to "relax" following his brutal and public death.
She had said "to the black people, relax, take it as a challenge, makes you stronger."
She also claimed that they "chose to be born as a 'colored' person in America for a reason. To learn a certain lesson."
The Malaysian model of Chinese-Brazillian descent also defended herself against criticism pointing out her privilege by claiming that she had experienced discrimination as a "white girl in a local Malaysian school."
Meanwhile, homegrown makeup company Velvet Vanity has severed ties with James.
It issued a statement on Instagram last night after social media users had tagged them over her remarks. One user had also pointedly told them to "stop sponsoring racists".
Velvet Vanity said they catered to people of all skin colours and supporting James would be contradictory.
"Any posts featuring (James) was made way before this case and we are not affiliated with her anymore.
"As a brand, we support #blacklivesmatter and we would never associate ourselves with racist behaviour in any way," read the statement.
James had earlier modelled one of their lipsticks in a post on her Instagram feed.