Have you sat there, wondering about the intersectionality of religion, LGBTQ+, bigotry, and crunchy, savory snacks? Ponder no more, dear reader, we’ve found it for you.
Remember Cocombee’s Studios? Probably not, so we’ll provide you a little refresher: They made a delightful video last year implying that if a woman were whiter, and slimmer, she might save herself the horrors of domestic violence.
Unsatisfied with that legacy, the group has come out with the latest installment in their ill-conceived oeuvre, and it’s polemical af.
Turns out that skin-whitening is SOOOOO 2017, and the latest hot button issue out there getting regular citizens to weigh in on topics that have little to do with their daily life is LGBTQ+ rights.
Let’s just dive right in: Yes, it’s four minutes of your life that you’ll never get back. But then again, it’s not every day that you’re able to witness anti-LGBTQ+, anti-Semitism and anti-Chinese rhetoric all rolled up into what is basically (emphasis on basic) an advertisement for a snack brand.
It seems that brand, Crunchiz, is actually owned by Cocombee’s, the same production house that made this offensive monstrosity, so at least we don’t have to wonder what kind of client would approve this ad. But we will forever ponder what kind of hateful, simple minds could conjure this trash up.
Peep it below:
Right. Have you fully regained your faculties? Let’s discuss:
Scene One, Act One: The exposition
We’re introduced to two characters, one a crude stereotype of an effeminate man, and the other, a bloke who can’t seem to mind his own business while he munches on his multi-level-marketing-distributed snacks. Unable to contain his rage that another human is out there living their own life, he scolds the other person for not acting like a man.
The person in the wig explains that he’s a woman trapped in a man’s body.
END SCENE.
Act Two, Scene Two: Rising Action
Jumping into an alternative world where gender identity and incest co-exist as synonymous analogies. Snack man shows his wigged counterpart a married couple sitting on a sofa. He then explains that the man and woman are actually brother and sister.
Shocked, the bewigged individual tells them that they can’t be married, as they are related (gross!). Angry, the man on the sofa storms over, slaps him, and explains that he is another man, trapped in the body of the woman’s brother (gross, times a thousand).
END SCENE.
Act Two, Scene Two: More Action
A young boy asks for a cigarette from an older man. Shocked, the wigged man tells the boy that he shouldn’t be smoking. Again, he is slapped, and this time the child explains that he is an older man, trapped in the body of a young boy.
Yes, this is actually supposed to be some sort clever argument against transgenderism.
END SCENE.
Act Three, Scene One: Climax
Back in the “real world,” our two leads continue to argue when a third man, who appears to be ethnically Chinese, enters into the fray. The interloper tells the aggressive snack man that the more effeminate man has the freedom to be and act however he wants and that religion should not rule the country. He says that Malaysia should be a secular country.
Angered at the suggestion, snack man tells him to watch his mouth, because Muslim Malays don’t judge Chinese for gambling or drinking beer (Ed. Note: Exactly the kind of sh*t people say when they’re judging you). He adds that non-Muslims shouldn’t insert themselves in the argument, because you know, human rights are a two-tiered system for some.
PLOT TWIST: The Chinese man explains that he is Muslim. Unable to comprehend that a Chinese man could also be Muslim and believe that government should be secular, snack man and bewigged man join together to beat him up.
Because, after all, what better way is there to sell your sh*tty, cheap snack nibbles than beating viewers over the head with bigotry, homophobia, racism and violence?
But wait. Something is MISSING. A certain je ne sais quoi of insouciance in the whole thing.
Act Four, Scene One: Falling Action
If you’re sitting there, longing for another layer of hate and wondering where all that salty, anti-Semitism is at, rest assured: Cocombee’s didn’t forget about the Jewish people.
Our heroes (LOL) reflect that the Chinese man acted just like a Jewish person. In fact, we’ll draw to your attention to the fact that the video is called “Hari ni ramai org ISLAM, TAPI PERANGAI MCM YAHUDI! (There are a lot of Muslim folks these days that act like Jews).”
Right. Wagering that the creators of this clip have probably never met someone of that faith, we would love to know what they mean by this.
Wait, are they referring to the racist notion that Jewish folk are money-obsessed? Shylock-like money lenders driven by greed? Something tells us no one at Cocombee’s has read The Merchant of Venice, and this IS a video intended to sell their snacks, resulting in sales, translating to more money for them … so, no, it can’t be that.
Tell us, please! Cocombee’s – what DO you mean by that?
Act Five, Scene One: Resolution
Our hero explains that nowadays, non-Muslims are speaking too much and over-stepping boundaries. Turns out, in Malaysia Baru (New Malaysia), the only people whose opinions matter are the makers of this video.
Nefarious, non-Muslim forces are out there trying to take money away from religion, he warns (Ed. Note: No irony lost that the former head of the Hajj fund is currently under investigation for stealing money from a fund intended to help the poor go to Mecca). These folks want to replace laws and royal families, and … wait. Will eating these snacks stop all of that? Where are we going with this?
You’ve lost us Cocombee’s Studios, sorry. All we see is half-baked hate, and a lot of jump cuts.
There you have it readers, absolute atrocious drivel designed to sell second-rate snack food.
At best, this is offensive to anybody with common sense, compassion, empathy and logic.
At worst, it actively encourages transphobia, perpetuates anti-Semitism and tries to turn race-based hatred and violence into comedy. To sell snacks.
Cocombee’s Studios, you’ve truly outdone yourselves — in the worst possible way. We can’t imagine how you could get lower than this, but we’re sure you’ll try.
Earlier today, Coconuts KL reached out to Cocombee’s for comment on their piece, that they put into the public sphere for public consumption and open to public opinion, with the following five questions:
Anticipating some food (Crunchiz?) for thought, we instead received this:
We’ll let you know if any of those questions ever get answered.
