Rapper Subhas Nair removed from CNA musical documentary over 'offensive' rap video

SINGAPORE — Rapper Subhas Nair has been removed from an upcoming musical documentary titled Roar to be aired on CNA, because of his involvement in an “offensive” rap video targeting Singaporean Chinese, the news organisation said on Wednesday (July 31).

In a statement, CNA said that it “strongly objects to all such offensive content which threatens racial harmony and will not associate with individuals who intentionally create such content".

"As a result, CNA has removed Mr Nair from its upcoming musical documentary Roar and taken down the articles related to his involvement in this programme," it said.

The documentary was going to feature four Singapore musicians, including the 27-year-old Subhas, writing some new music for National Day.

It will continue with its planned premiere on Aug 3 and 4 featuring the other three musicians, Benjamin Kheng, Aisyah Aziz and Wang Weiliang.

Subhas was in the news earlier this week when a three-minute rap video he fronted with his sister and YouTube performer Preeti Nair — known online as Preetipls — was published online. It showed the pair rapping a stream of four-letter words and using vulgar gestures targeted at Singaporean Chinese.

The video was done in response to a controversial advertisement by electronic payments provider Nets to promote E-Pay. The advertisement sparked a backlash because Chinese actor Dennis Chew was dressed up as four characters, including a Malay woman and an Indian man. To portray these characters, Chew’s skin was made up to look darker.

The rap video was posted on Facebook, uploaded on YouTube and a portion of it was put up on Instagram. Singapore authorities on Tuesday asked the online platforms to take down the video.

A police report was made, and Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said that the video was meant “to make minorities angry with Chinese Singaporeans”.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said: "When you use four-letter words, vulgar language, attack another race, put it out in public, we have to draw the line and say not acceptable.”

Section 298 of the Singapore Penal Code states that it is an offence to “utter words with deliberate intent to wound the religious or racial feelings of any person”. CNA

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