Indian-Chinese star Jwala Gutta slams ‘racist replies’ as she mourns death of her grandmother in China
- The 37-year-old calls out a social media user who questions her use of the term ‘Covid’ instead of the derogatory ‘Chinese virus’
- The former doubles specialist, who has an Indian father and Chinese mother, writes ‘what has happened to us as a society?’
Former Indian badminton player Jwala Gutta has slammed “racist replies” on social media that mocked her use of the word “Covid” instead of “Chinese virus” as she mourned the death of her grandmother in China.
The 37-year-old Gutta, whose mother is Chinese and father Indian, posted a tweet on Friday paying tribute to her grandmother, who she said died on the eve of the Lunar New Year.
“Ammaama passed away in China on d eve of CNY!” she wrote. “My mom use 2 visit her every month but for past year she couldn’t because of covid. How dis covid has made us realise how important it is 2 be in present do whatever v can for our loved ones whenever v can! Happy new year.”
One user replied “Covid or Chinese virus?”, questioning why she uses “Covid” instead of the derogatory term for the coronavirus often amplified by former US president Donald Trump, who blames China for causing the pandemic.
Gutta did not specify the cause of death for her grandmother but described the response as “racist”.
She responded: “I am mourning the loss of my grand mom who passed away in China and to my surprise I get racist replies ... and I am asked why I say covid and not Chinese virus ...