Daniel Lindemann "I Didn't Know About Sam Okyere Controversy... Please Know the Facts Before Criticizing"

"No Racists Among Cast Members of Non-Summit"

Photo by Daniel Lindemann, a capture of JTBC's 'Non-Summit' posted on his Facebook on the 7th

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Daniel Lindemann (35), a German national broadcaster, posted and then deleted a photo on the 7th that appeared to target people criticizing Sam Okyere (29). After the controversy arose, he posted an explanation regarding the matter.

On the same day, Daniel Lindemann explained on his Instagram, "Since many people seem to misunderstand, I was going to let it go but decided to explain," revealing the reason why he posted and then deleted a photo of himself making a ridiculous facial expression the day before.

The reason the photo of Daniel Lindemann making a ridiculous face became controversial was due to netizens' criticism that he might have supported Sam Okyere's act of 'eye-slanting,' which is considered an expression of East Asian discrimination.

Sam Okyere. Photo by JTBC, captured from Non-Summit.

Some netizens pointed out that Daniel Lindemann's ridiculous facial expression might have been intended to mock those criticizing Sam Okyere.

Especially since Daniel Lindemann was discussing the same topic as Sam Okyere when he made the ridiculous face, netizens speculated, "Isn't Daniel indirectly expressing his stance on the Sam Okyere controversy through the photo?"

Daniel Lindemann responded, "On my old account, there was a series where I occasionally posted my ugly face and wrote 'pretty' underneath as a form of self-deprecation," calling it "satire."

He explained, "The photo I posted yesterday was a cut sent to me by a close Korean friend, capturing the moment I terribly failed trying to imitate Yoo Se-yoon's proboscis monkey on Non-Summit. If anyone was insulted, it was me. That too is satire."

He added, "I posted the photo without knowing about the controversy related to racism yesterday," and appealed, "People who usually have no interest in us and don't know us well suddenly come to my account and call me a racist, a Nazi, and so on."

He continued, "If you are going to curse, please first judge the situation and get accurate information before cursing. Then you might feel better and think, 'Wow, I'm such a cool and strong person for going into a private account to curse.'"

Nevertheless, he questioned, "Among the foreign broadcasters who appeared on Non-Summit, there is no racism. If there were, why would we have come to Korea, struggled for years learning the language and culture, and done broadcasting activities carrying the heavy title of representing our countries?"

Finally, he concluded, "To those who suddenly come and curse without properly understanding or watching our usual activities, let's get along better from now on, please. Oh dear, I will now go back to studying my script."

Uijeongbu High School students parodying 'Gwanjjak Boyz'. Photo by Uijeongbu High School Student Council Facebook.

Earlier, on the previous day, Sam Okyere criticized students from Uijeongbu High School who parodied the so-called 'Gwanjjak Sonyeondan' as 'racial discrimination.'

Sam Okyere said, "It's sad and unfortunate to see this in 2020. It's not funny. From our perspective as Black people, it's a very unpleasant act," and criticized, "Please stop. I understand imitating culture, but do you have to paint your face color as well?"

He added, "I hope such actions don't happen in Korea. Respecting each other's cultures is best. If possible, I would like to talk together sometime."

Amid the debate over Sam Okyere's criticism, with opinions divided between 'it is racial discrimination' and 'an excessive interpretation,' past acts of Sam Okyere slanting his eyes came under scrutiny, drawing criticism from netizens.

Currently, the problematic photo and explanation post on Daniel Lindemann's Facebook have all been deleted.

Below is the full explanation from Daniel Lindemann.

Everyone, please pay attention~

Since many people seem to misunderstand, I was going to let it go but decided to explain.

On my old account, there was a series where I occasionally posted my ugly face and wrote "pretty" underneath as a form of self-deprecation. It was meant to be funny, right? "Satire."

The photo I posted yesterday was a cut sent to me by a close Korean friend, capturing the moment I terribly failed trying to imitate Yoo Se-yoon's proboscis monkey on Non-Summit. If anyone was insulted, it was me. That too is "satire."

I posted the photo without knowing about the controversy related to racism yesterday.

People who usually have no interest in us and don't know us well suddenly come to my account and call me a racist, a Nazi, and so on. If you are going to curse, please first judge the situation and get accurate information before cursing. Then you might feel better and think, "Wow, I'm such a cool and strong person for going into a private account to curse."

Now, because it's really bothersome, I'll say this one last time. Among the foreign broadcasters who appeared on Non-Summit, there is no racism. If there were, why would we have come to Korea, struggled for years learning the language and culture, and done broadcasting activities carrying the heavy title of representing our countries?

To those who suddenly come and curse without properly understanding or watching our usual activities, let's get along better from now on, please. Oh dear, I will now go back to studying my script.