Watson regrets video reaction, says no offence intended
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CONVENIENCE chain Watsons has apologised to those offended by its Raya video, saying it was not meant to incite racism but to highlight true love.
Watsons Malaysia has since taken down the video and posted a statement explaining that the video script was based on the legend of Dayang Senandung and was not meant to promote racism.
“The legend of Dayang Senandung is Malay folklore about a lady who was born cursed with black skin but blessed with a beautiful voice.
“The legend depicts that the king fell in love with Dayang Senandung because of her voice and inner beauty.
“The curse was lifted after Dayang Senandung gave birth to the king’s child,” the statement read.
It said the video was also meant to highlight the moral values of inner beauty within the legend.
The offending 15-minute video features a prince in search of a sweet voice that haunts his dreams. He holds an audition to find the maiden with the voice.
A veiled woman appears singing with the voice of the prince’s dreams. The prince asks to see the face behind the veil, and is shown the woman’s “black face”. She is mocked and laughed at by the court, and leaves, but returns later as a fair maiden to tell the prince that her “black face” was a test of his faithfulness. – June 7, 2017.