A video clip that seemingly shows a cheerleader reacting in disgust moments after smilingly posing for pictures with a male fan sparked debate among netizens yesterday.
The cheerleader, nicknamed “Hsiao Wen” (小文), became the topic of heated conversation after the clip went viral and was featured on TV news shows.
Hsiao Wen is a member of the dance squad known as the Uni-Girls that cheer for the Uni-President Lions.
In the clip captured by a TV camera, Hsiao Wen is approached by a chubby guy with glasses and a baseball cap who asks to have his photo taken with her during a recent game between the Lions and the EDA Rhinos in Tainan.
While posing for the pictures, Hsiao Wen appears friendly, smiling and obliging the fan by making a happy “Ya” hand gesture for his smartphone camera.
Afterward, the guy is seen walking away and as soon as he is out of sight, Hsiao Wen’s smiling expression changes abruptly into one of scorn, and she is seen rolling her eyes as she talks to another cheerleader sitting next to her.
The cameraman continues to focus on her reactions, which appear to involve her saying some swear words and that many people have interpreted as her ridiculing the fan.
Within days of its being caught on video, the incident was a hot item on the news and among online communities, with some commentators raging about the cheerleader’s “appalling” behavior and others rallying to her defense.
On major news Web sites, it was one of the most discussed stories and drew thousands of comments.
The intense reaction to the clip has touched on several social issues, with some accusing Hsiao Wen of discriminating against overweight people, while others denounced her for judging the fan based solely on his appearance. Still others were offended by her “childish behavior” and unprofessional conduct.
Likely adding fuel to the fire was the title that the JTV network gave to the video: “When taking pictures with cheerleaders, first make sure that you are a handsome guy.”
Other observers pointed out the privacy issues related to the incident, with one writing that TV networks have no right to record individuals without their permission, saying that filming Hsiao Wen without her knowledge constituted a violation of her right to privacy.
Others commented that Hsiao Wen’s reaction was a natural and instinctive reaction, adding that she is free to express her opinion while speaking privately to a friend and that those criticizing her should stop being so self-righteous.
The fan was also a topic of conversation, with some saying “he was the real victim” and “must have been badly hurt after a video of him being publicly ridiculed was broadcast to the entire nation.”
Hsiao Wen yesterday issued a public apology for her behavior, although she initially denied that she had been insulting or otherwise deriding the fan, but had actually been complaining to her friend about being tired from traveling and long working hours.
Some baseball fans said that they found the incident upsetting and questioned if all female cheerleaders are so judgemental about their male fans and overweight people in general, with others threatening that if the Uni-Girls do not apologize, they would boycott all future Lions games.
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