Channel C apologises after livestreaming host gives Nazi salute at anime event

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Local online media Channel C has apologised after its livestreaming host joined a few cosplayers in making a Nazi salute at the Ani-com and Games Hong Kong 2024 (香港動漫電玩節) last Friday (26 July).

On Wednesday (31 July), Ronson Chan, multimedia production supervisor at Channel C, personally apologised to Amir Lati, consul general of the State of Israel in Hong Kong and Macau, and the Jewish community.

According to Chan’s Facebook post, he said Lati believed that the incident did not involve racial hatred, but rather reflected the reporter's lack of historical knowledge.

This comes after Channel C’s reporter conducted a live interview with three cosplayers during the event, who portrayed the German military. One of them costumed as Adolf Hitler. Towards the end of the interview, the reporter made a Nazi salute when he saw the Hitler cosplayer near.

According to a statement by Channel C, the reporter intended to thank the Hitler cosplayer and responded with an inappropriate gesture, which sparked reactions and concerns from the audience. “The reporter’s actions were inappropriate, and we apologise for this.”

“We have no intention to promote or glorify the relevant historical crimes, nor did mean to joke about them.”

Channel C has also taken down the related footage due to the seriousness of the situation and to prevent inappropriate imitation by viewers. It also said it will remind employees to be extra cautious in terms of their behaviour during live broadcasts in the future.

Meanwhile, Consulate of Israel in Hong Kong and Macau said in a statement to media outlets such as HK01 that it is shocked to see images of a the youngsters dressed in Nazi uniforms and portrayed Hitler at the event.

It said that Hitler is responsible for the Holocaust, the genocide perpetrated by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II with a plan to systematically exterminate the entire Jewish race. Meanwhile, it is a demonstration of ignorance and also a reminder of the importance of education in the lessons of the Holocaust, of what hatred and racism could lead a human being to do.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Consulate of Israel in Hong Kong and Macau for a statement.

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The controversy surrounding Channel C's actions at the event has generated two spikes of media mentions, according to media intelligence CARMA. The first occurred on 26 July, when netizens discussed a Channel C host joining cosplayers in making a Nazi salute. The second spike came on 31 July, when Chan met with the Consul General of Israel in Hong Kong.

In total, over 1,200 mentions are observed related to the incident, with 58.9% negative and 3.4% positive sentiments. Many netizens expressed disappointment and frustration, feeling Channel C's actions displayed a lack of sensitivity and cultural awareness, according to Charles Cheung, CARMA’s HK GM.

"However, some defended the host, arguing he was simply doing his job, and that the public's reaction was overly sensitive. They also praised the swift action taken to address the mistake," Cheung added.