On Friday, a video of an enraged lady lashing out at a deaf and mute cleaner at the JEM foodcourt went viral. Apparently, she had almost finished her food when she discovered “something dirty” on the plate and proceeded to take photos as evidence for her to lodge a complaint with the management. Unfortunately, a cleaner came by and began to clear the dishes on her table. She said she couldn’t tell he was disabled, and told him three times not to remove her plate, but he did so and had the nerve to stare at her.
Despite the fact that Steven, the cleaning company’s operations manager, told her repeatedly that the cleaner was deaf, she went one step further to scold him and tell him he should be a beggar.
Thus began yet another online witch hunt. Netiens railed against the woman’s rude tirade, naming her as 37-year-old Alice Fong, and shaming her for her actions. Internet vigilantes took it upon themselves to circulate photos of her at grassroots events and reveal her private information, resulting in her being bombarded by prank calls and texts from strangers.
After being crucified online, Madam Fong admitted that she said things in a fit of anger, and revealed that she called Steven to apologise to him and the cleaner. She also claimed to be having a flu that day — perhaps the medication was what fuelled her rage? (If so, people, stay off flu meds). But she maintained that she’s “not a bad or evil person”, and that she wasn’t the only party at fault as she was not aware of the cleaner’s disabilities. For his part, the cleaner said he wasn’t upset and there was no need for an apology; he was more concerned about disturbing other customers.
