If you don’t bust your ass and work those overtime shifts, instead of living like a normal human being who isn’t a slave to capitalism, you’re not doing life right.
At least, that’s Malaysian influencer Janna Nick’s philosphy. The 28-year-old, who has garnered numerous criticisms over her witless comments in the past, has struck again. And this time, the internet got seriously iffy about it.
Her latest controversial remarks were uttered during a recent episode of Studio Sembang, a podcast hosted by Amelia Henderson, in which Janna was invited on as a guest.
The episode, which aired on March 31, saw the two actresses delving into personal topics such as their perspectives on the difficulties faced by young Malaysians.
To promote Janna’s appearance, a snippet from the episode was shared on the podcast’s official Twitter account, featuring the hosts discussing work-life balance.
Janna expressed her observation that the younger generation often tries to prioritize this balance, punctuating her statement with a soft chuckle.
“I always realise that the generation nowadays wants to have a work-life balance. I am sorry but I only got a work-life balance when I turned 28 after I had a certain amount (of savings), after buying two houses and after I had a car,” she said in a mix of English and Malay.
She then said she wasn’t trying to show off but wanted to convey that she “could only relax after securing certain things in her life”.
Her statement riled up internet users, who slammed her for not being empathetic or understanding that not everyone wants to subscribe to hustle culture.
Hustle culture is a phenomenon that glorifies the idea of working long hours and sacrificing personal life in pursuit of professional success. While it can be argued that working hard is necessary for success, glamorizing hustle culture can have negative consequences.
It promotes the idea that success is only achievable through hard work and that those who are not able to work long hours are not dedicated enough. This can create a culture of overworking, burnout, and stress, which can lead to mental health issues.
Secondly, it perpetuates the myth of the “self-made” person, ignoring the role that privilege and luck often plays in achieving success. It can lead to the belief that anyone can achieve success if they work hard enough, ignoring systemic barriers such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Here’s hoping that local celebrities are capable of comprehending such issues, although we wouldn’t really count it.
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