The Taiwan Times
  • News
    • Asia
    • World
    • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Health
    • COVID-19
  • Local Guides
    • Northern Taiwan
      • Keelung
      • Taipei
      • New Taipei
      • Taoyuan
      • Hsinchu
      • Miaoli
    • Central Taiwan
      • Taichung
      • Changhua
      • Yunlin
      • Nantou
    • Southern Taiwan
      • Chiayi
      • Tainan
      • Kaohsiung
      • Pingtung
    • Eastern Taiwan
      • Yilan
      • Hualien
      • Taitung
    • Outlying Islands
      • Kinmen
      • Penghu
The Taiwan Times The Taiwan Times
  • News
    • Asia
    • World
    • Opinion
    India strikes Pakistan
    • Navneet
    • May 7, 2025
    India strikes Pakistan after Kashmir Terror Attack under #OperationSindoor
      Pakistan Army Chief
      • Navneet
      • May 5, 2025
      Pakistan’s Army Chief looks to confront India after Kashmir terrorist attack
        China supports Pakistan
        • Navneet
        • April 28, 2025
        China calls for restraint amid rising India-Pakistan tensions after Kashmir terrorist attack
          south korea standoff
          • Navneet
          • January 3, 2025
          Impeached South Korean President defies warrant after a long standoff
          • Politics
          • Business
          • Technology
          • Entertainment
          • Sports
          • Health
            • COVID-19
          • Local Guides
            • Northern Taiwan
              • Keelung
              • Taipei
              • New Taipei
              • Taoyuan
              • Hsinchu
              • Miaoli
            • Central Taiwan
              • Taichung
              • Changhua
              • Yunlin
              • Nantou
            • Southern Taiwan
              • Chiayi
              • Tainan
              • Kaohsiung
              • Pingtung
            • Eastern Taiwan
              • Yilan
              • Hualien
              • Taitung
            • Outlying Islands
              • Kinmen
              • Penghu
          FOLLOW US
          0
          0
          0
          • Asia
          • China
          • COVID-19
          • News
          • World

          COVID Racism Hits Sweden’s Restaurant Scene – In The Form Of Batman

          • 2 minute read
          Total
          0
          Shares
          Share 0
          Tweet 0
          Pin it 0
          C: Johan Fredriksson
          Up next
          Is Ugandan Road Infrastructure Deal A Front For Embezzlement?
            Published on 11 October 2020
            Author
            Lisa Conklin
            Tags
            • bat,
            • Batman,
            • BBC,
            • Bryan Yambao,
            • Bryanboy,
            • China,
            • Coronavirus,
            • COVID-19,
            • Iron Art Works,
            • pandemic,
            • Philippines,
            • racism,
            • racist,
            • Restaurant Riche,
            • Stockholm,
            • Sweden,
            • Xi Jinping
            Share article
            The post has been shared by 0 people.
            Facebook 0
            Twitter 0
            Pinterest 0
            Mail 0

            Warning: The image used in this article could cause offence. Please proceed with caution.

            A self titled ‘fashion influencer’ from the Philippines named Bryanboy – real name Bryan Yambao – has highlighted yet another case of what seems to be systemic racism against Asians brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

            This time in Stockholm, Sweden.

            “It wasn’t until we placed our order that we noticed all the huge posters on the wall — an illustrated portrait of a very yellow Xi Jinping with bat ears and the term ‘BAT MAN’,” Bryan said speaking to the British broadcaster BBC following his experience at the upscale Restaurant Riche in the Swedish capital.

            Bryan was “mortified” by the experience according to post on Instagram, where the hugely popular Instagrammer has over 600,000 followers, but now lives in Sweden with his husband after growing up in Manila. He was reportedly visiting the restaurant with a friend from Hong Kong.

            “Ever since Covid happened, me and pretty much a lot of the Asian people I know have gone through so much racist and xenophobic abuse on the internet,” Bryan said to the BBC. “So to see it in real life was kind of surreal” he added.

            “Almost every day I get comments, just because I’m Asian, linking me with Covid. And it’s not just online – these images have real-life repercussions, because they create a hostile environment for Asians and it normalises racism and xenophobia against them.”

            Since the incident the restaurant has removed the posters after several weeks in-situ, and issued a statement saying a number of people had found the images “disturbing and racist, which was of course not the intention.” The restaurant also “sincerely apologise[s] to anyone that was offended”.

            The artist who produced the poster, meanwhile has apologised for the offence caused, but seemingly not for producing the image in the first place.

            “I would not have done it in the first place If I did not stand behind it. I still do,” ‘Iron Art Works’ wrote to the BBC.

            The apology did little to placate Bryan, however who said “It comes from a place of ignorance – that he wasn’t expecting it to be racist or considered racist… I’m all for freedom of expression by artists, but I just wish that he knew what the repercussions of his work are.”

            “In these crazy times, when millions of people are affected by this disease and hundreds of thousands of people have already died, and the world is already in such a bad state, do we really need to create divisive artwork out there, that could be misconstrued by anyone?”

            Comments are closed.

            You May Also Like

            Fitness Club Shut Due To Coronavirus Fears

            despite a requirement (for) self-quarantine … club member chose to visit the Yawei fitness club
            • Mark Buckton
            • February 13, 2020
            • 1 minute read

            Taiwan to Impose Health Declaration Forms on All Visitors

            Those failing to accurately do so face a fine of up to NT$150,000
            • Mark Buckton
            • February 12, 2020
            • 1 minute read

            Despite Trade War, Taiwan Raises Economic Forecast For 2020

            The ongoing US-China trade war seems to be impacting everyone, except perhaps…
            • Guest Article
            • November 30, 2019
            • 2 minute read

            In Taiwan, Southeast Asians Find Roots In A Bookstore

            Humans often tend to create and sustain differences between each other. In…
            • Guest Article
            • November 29, 2019
            • 2 minute read
            Follow Us
            Facebook 0 Likes
            Twitter 0 Followers
            Instagram 0 Followers
            Search
            Advertisement
            Categories
            Recent Posts
            • Robert Francis Prevost
              • Feature
              • News
              Robert Francis Prevost becomes first American-born Pope, takes name Leo XIV
              • Navneet
            • India strikes Pakistan
              • Asia
              • News
              India strikes Pakistan after Kashmir Terror Attack under #OperationSindoor
              • Navneet
            • Pakistan Army Chief
              • Asia
              • News
              Pakistan’s Army Chief looks to confront India after Kashmir terrorist attack
              • Navneet
            • Mark Carney
              • News
              • Politics
              Mark Carney wins Canadian Election, vows to stand firm against Trump’s threats
              • Navneet
            Robert Francis Prevost

            Robert Francis Prevost becomes first American-born Pope, takes name Leo XIV

            In a historic moment for both the United States and the Catholic…
            • Navneet
            • 2 minute read
            India strikes Pakistan

            India strikes Pakistan after Kashmir Terror Attack under #OperationSindoor

            India carried out a series of airstrikes across Pakistani territory early Wednesday…
            • Navneet
            • 2 minute read
            Pakistan Army Chief

            Pakistan’s Army Chief looks to confront India after Kashmir terrorist attack

            Following a deadly terrorist attack that claimed the lives of over two…
            • Navneet
            • 2 minute read
            Mark Carney

            Mark Carney wins Canadian Election, vows to stand firm against Trump’s threats

            Mark Carney, leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, claimed victory early Tuesday in…
            • Navneet
            • 2 minute read
            The Taiwan Times
            0
            0
            0
            • About Us
            • Contact Us
            • Meet The Team
            • Editorial Policy
            • Disclaimer
            • Privacy Policy
            • Support The Taiwan Times
            • Sitemap
            台灣國際報 The Taiwan Times
            Taiwan's Trusted Journal - We ♥ Taiwan
            Copyright © The Taiwan Times All Rights Reserved