Yesterday saw music, art, and fashion fans the world over grieving over the death of David Bowie, the man who brought Ziggy Stardust (and Jareth the Goblin King, and his son, acclaimed film director Duncan Jones) into popular consiousness.
Tributes and memorial messages flooded the internet, with people from all walks of life remembering Bowie’s accomplishments and contributions to global pop culture … but not everyone was ever that impressed with him when he was alive.
Take, for instance, Lim Kok Wing. The founder of the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, one of the pioneering advertising moguls to emerge from Malaysia, and a consistent PR strategist for the ruling Barisan Nasional political coalition apparently never really got why David Bowie was such a big deal:
Tweeting, “David bowie is dead. I never understood him, why he would paint his face and wear the clothes he did. But obviously he was very popular,” Lim seemed to showcase a lack of appreciation for one of the most highly regarded artists of the past five decades, or at least doesn’t get why Bowie was so important.
Then came the online backlash:
One particular reply seemed to have struck a nerve with Lim:
… to which he replied:
Of course, he could have just been promoting LUCT, as the founder of a university should any time the opportunity presents itself.
Still, Lim apparently shrugged off netizens’ criticism of his #toosoon tweet, doubling down on his opinion on one of the most beloved and respected artists in the world:
That’s just, like, your opinion, man.
(Rest in peace, David.)
