The Miss Universe Malaysia Organization (MUMO) issued a statement late Monday (Jun 1) on Instagram to distance themselves from recent remarks made by former Miss Universe Malaysia winner Samantha Katie James.
MUMO said that James’ views were her own and not affiliated with the organisation. They added: “MUMO stands for a non-racial society and strongly condemns all acts of racism and prejudice anywhere in the world.”
The statement comes after James caused a furore online with her comments on the Black Lives Matter protests in the US, following the death of George Floyd.
James, who won the title in 2017, posted her thoughts on her Instagram Stories on Monday afternoon, reported the Malay Mail. She wrote: “I don’t live in America, it has nothing to do with me, but to me, it seems like the ‘whites’ won.”
“If you’re angry, you respond in rage and anguish and that means it has power over you. They have power over you,” she added. “Foolish humans.”
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| Samantha Katie James |
She later posted again on her Stories, saying: “To the black people, relax, take it as a challenge, makes you stronger. You chose to be born as a ‘coloured’ person in America for a reason. To learn a certain lesson. Accept it as it is, till now hunger and poverty still exist. It is what it is. It’s inevitable. Best you can do is remain calm, protect heart, don’t allow it to crumble. That’s your responsibility.”
Understandably, social media users were incensed with her remarks, with one user questioning her assertion that black people “chose” to be born so.
James posted her reply to the DM on her Stories, in which she explained: “Like our souls chose this life, this country, this race, this human form specifically for a reason. I always wondered why I was born in Malaysia as a white girl with a Chinese mum and Indian grandparents and a Brazilian dad. But I chose this all for a reason, as a soul.”
Many users are still calling her out for her comments, with one person saying, “Imagine telling black people to ‘just relax’ as if this isn't something they've been dealing with for YEARS. you should've just sat there and eaten your food.”
Another user commented on James’ recent post: “No one CHOSE to be born a certain colour. Black people have been protesting for YEARS and yet they still get racially profiled and killed because white privilege allows it. Perhaps don’t comment on things you don't have any clue of?"
