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Hitz FM Apologises After Being Called Out For 'Tone-Deaf Transphobic' Video

The radio station has also taken down the video from their social media pages.

Cover image via Nisha Ayub via Hitz FM

Hitz FM has apologised after being called out on social media for a video featuring two of the station's deejays

Screenshot from the video showing two Hitz FM DJs checking out a person walking past them.

Image via Hitz FM

The video, which was uploaded on Hitz FM's social media pages on 20 September, showed their two DJs checking out someone walking past them. After finding out that the person wasn’t a woman, they started vomiting.

Hitz FM had captioned the video as, "When a pretty girl turns out to be a guy. Have you ever been so startled that you feel like throwing up?"

Screenshot from the video showing one of the DJ vomiting.

Image via Hitz FM

In their statement to media houses, Hitz FM said, "We at Hitz.fm would like to apologise for the said video, and have since removed it. Thank you."

The radio station was aptly criticised for their distasteful video by netizens including the recipient of the 2016 U.S. International Women of Courage Award, Nisha Ayub

Posting on her Facebook page, Nisha shot at Hitz FM, saying, "What kind of message are you "perfect people" bringing to your listeners?

"Do you so-called "perfect people" know the impact of your discriminative video towards the community coming from all age, race or religion?"

Nisha Ayub.

Image via Mid Day

Nisha said that the video encourages transphobia

She asked if the radio station was trying to encourage bullying and hatred of people who have a different gender identity or expression.

Noting how the transgender community has faced so much discrimination, violence, and has even been the victims of hate crime in Malaysia, Nisha brought up her disappointment on media that would perpetuate such degrading messages to the public.

Screenshot from the video showing the face of the person.

Image via Hitz FM

"It could be a joke to you but your joke could also effect someone's life," she wrote

Nisha also called out both the DJs who were shown vomiting at the sight of the person they had assumed to be a woman.

Screenshot from the video showing the other DJ vomiting in the back.

Image via Nisha Ayub via Hitz FM

Have you seen the video? What do you think about it? You can share your thoughts with us by commenting below.

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