"Imagine How Famous It's Going To Make Me" — Jocelyn Chia On PDRM's Interpol Request
The standup comedian described Malaysian police's reaction as "overblown" and "ridiculous".
Jocelyn Chia — a standup comedian who landed in trouble for an MH370 flight joke that failed to land — has called the reaction from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) "overblown" and "ridiculous"
The 41-year-old, in an interview with BBC yesterday, 14 June, claimed that she was not making fun of tragedy and victims of the missing MH370 flight, but was trying to find humour in tragedy.
While Chia's joke did not sit well with Malaysians, who took offence and called out the comedian online, the issue escalated when government officials from Singapore and Malaysia got involved.
On Wednesday, 13 June, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said that the police will ask the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to locate Chia, who is based in the US.
In response, the Singapore-born comedian said that involving Interpol was "ridiculous" over a joke — which she claimed — had been "taken out of context when consumed on social media".
Remarking on the PDRM's Interpol request, the comedian said such a reaction from officials is only going to make her more famous
"I just wish I could have seen the face of the Interpol officer who received this request," Chia told BBC.
"Honestly, if Interpol does do something about this request and things escalate, can you imagine how famous it is going to make me?" she added.
According to BBC, Interpol has not received a request for assistance from the PDRM.
Image via New Straits Times
Meanwhile, Chia also claimed that the American audience — unlike those in Asia — is more mature and appreciates edgy humour
According to her, the standup comedy scene in Asia is "still in its early days".
"You won't find a lot of edgy comedy in Asia," she told BBC.
Read more about the ongoing controversy here:
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