An Asian comedienne has slammed a “shockingly racist party” thrown by students at prestigious Queen’s University in Canada, suggesting it made people of color unsafe because the party-goers committed “white violence” by wearing cultural costumes.
Celeste Yim went to Twitter to denounce the Queen’s partygoers. She posted pictures showing smiling students wearing clothes associated with Asian, Arabic, Native American culture. The pictures had been publicly posted on Facebook but have since been taken private.
A very shockingly racist party thrown by Queen's students happened and the photos made me feel sick to my stomach. Here are some highlights: pic.twitter.com/YP1niqWdxi
— Celeste Yim (@celestrogen) November 21, 2016
Yim, the self-styled “first Asian female comedian ever,” suggested that the party pictures show how much work “need to occur before people of color feel safe” and “the progress that needs to happen for white violence to even be addressed”.
“It feels insurmountable,” Yim added. “It makes me want to sit down and never write essays or jokes or tweets or anything ever again.”
The comedian continued expressing her frustration over cultural appropriation, saying the costumes “are indisputably and unequivocally offensive, tasteless, and should not be tolerated. Context and intentions have no bearing.”
The costumes are indisputably and unequivocally offensive, tasteless, and should not be tolerated. Context and intentions have no bearing.
— Celeste Yim (@celestrogen) November 22, 2016
She added that it’s not her duty to “teach white people about known facts”, implying everyone knows such costumes are offensive.
It is not my responsibility to teach white people about known facts.
— Celeste Yim (@celestrogen) November 22, 2016
One Queen’s University alumnus, however, took an issue with Yim’s description of the party. He said “nobody means any harm” with the costumes and asked to let students have fun, adding that the comedienne is the first person to see a problem with the party.
@celestrogen im sorry but you are ridiculous.i am a queens alum and have helped organize this party before. nobody means any harm and ..
— Casey Blue (@cblue888) November 22, 2016
@celestrogen all races of people are present & having fun at the party. let the students have fun, u r the first to have a problem with this
— Casey Blue (@cblue888) November 22, 2016
Here are a few pictures of the party that caused the uproar:
