Coronavirus: Dutch DJ Lex Gaarthuis apologises for ‘discriminatory’ song called ‘Prevention is better than Chinese’
- Title is play on words for ‘Chinese’ and ‘cure’, which sound similar in Dutch
- Song, which sparked outrage in local Chinese community, talks about ‘stinky Chinese’ and not eating Chinese food
A Dutch DJ has apologised to members of the Chinese community in the Netherlands for playing a song on his radio show that blamed them for the coronavirus, sparking outrage and a nationwide petition.
Lex Gaarthuis last week aired the satirical song called Prevention is Better Than Chinese – using a play on the words for “Chinese” and “cure”, which sound similar in Dutch.
The song, which he played on the Radio 10 station, also talks about “stinky Chinese” and says “if you don’t eat Chinese [food], you have nothing to worry about, because prevention is better than Chinese”, the NOS public broadcaster reported.
It was met by a wave of criticism.
A nationwide petition against the offending tune has already been signed more than 51,000 times, denouncing it as “discriminatory” and “inhuman in character”.
“Why are there people like Radio 10 who dare to connect a serious virus with people of Chinese origin and those who eat Chinese food?” asked the petition’s initiators.