A recent incident at Raffles Institution (RI) has culminated in the disciplining of a student following the emergence of a contentious photograph that was disseminated on social media. Captured on July 24, Racial Harmony Day, the image showcased a student dressed in a costume that mimicked a platform delivery rider (platform worker) – notably featuring a pink long-sleeved uniform along with a mask portraying a dark-skinned man’s face. The depiction became a talking point after it was shared on Reddit.
The mask was identified by commenters to represent the face of a well-known basketball player, sparking significant dialogue and mixed reactions. Some members of the online community found the student’s attire distasteful and called for such actions to be unequivocally rebuked.
Aaron Loh, the Principal of RI, stated that the school had taken the situation into account and has administered corrective action to the pupil in question. He underscored that on Racial Harmony Day, students had been given the option to don traditional ethnic outfits. Loh expounded on the rationale behind the student’s outfit choice, which was reportedly linked to a trend surrounding social media memes about a basketball player, explicitly stating that the student did not intend to mock or disparage any group or community.
In response to the incident, the educational institution has enacted counseling for the pupils involved to reinforce the significance of cultural sensitivity and the impact of their actions on others.
