IShowSpeed, a famous livestreamer, and YouTuber was recently caught in yet another controversy. Many have slammed him for using racist remarks at a Chinese man in Qatar during the FIFA World Cup.
IShowSpeed was accused of racism after shouting “Konnichiwa” at a Chinese man
In one of his streams from the Portugal Vs Switzerland match, he came across a man wearing an Argentina jersey. Speed tried to ask him why he was wearing that jersey but the language barrier did not lead the way for a conversation. Apparently, Speed started shouting Konnichiwa, a Japanese greeting, at a Chinese man who repeatedly corrected Speed by saying “No, Chinese! No Konnichiwa.”
This thing rapidly caught attention on the internet as people started slamming Speed with racist remarks. In response to this, IShowSpeed posted a video on his Twitter account and this has also received some mixed reactions. People have been defending as well as calling Speed out for his recent controversy.
In the video, Speed says that he wasn’t being racist and he genuinely thought that man was Japanese. After understanding that he belongs to China, he blurted out some unintelligible words which is apparently his nickname in China.
Furthermore, he added that Chinese people love him and his nickname is famous there. He stated that he loves other races and ensured his fans that his remarks were not meant in a racist point of view.
His entire statement can be read below:
“I wasn’t being racist to him. I promise you.I’ve seen him. I thought he was Japanese, so I said, ‘konichiwa.’ I watch a lot of anime. When I found out that he was Chinese, I tried to say the nickname they call me in Chinese. I was just literally talking to a Chinese person, earlier today, at 433, and they said they love me and I love Chinese people, so I tried to say [unintelligible], like, this is a nickname that they call me in China. I promise you. If it came off as racist, I promise you, I didn’t mean it that way. I got adrenaline pushing. I’m making content. Loud streaming. I’m at the World Cup, watching Ronaldo play. Adrenaline pushing. I’d seen him with an Argentina shirt and you know, I just wanted to say, ‘What’s up,’ to him. You know, I love other races. I really didn’t mean to come off as racist.”
