A Canadian social media influencer has faced backlash over a racist video in which he joked that an Asian market had a “pet store” on the side. after.
The influencer eventually apologized for his ignorance – but viewers didn’t buy it.
“Underneath his apology video, there are people saying ‘we’ forgive you. Dude, who are we?! ” one TikTok user commented.
Joel Hansen, called @modelvsfood on TikTok, Instagramand Facebook, set itself up for failure in May — Asia-Pacific American Heritage Month — when it mocked the Asian store and its items in TikTok videos. 3-minute video, deleted, shot by TikToker Michael or @chachamyeonmikal.
In clampthere is a text banner saying “This food must be illegal”, Hansen can be seen standing outside of Asia T&T supermarket.
“If you’ve never been to an Asian grocery store, you’re about to be shocked!” he says.
The video then shows Hansen inside the store, where he smells durian – a fruit popular in Southeast Asia – and makes an indignant expression. Next, he questioned a plucked chicken and why it was sold with its legs still intact.
“They even have a pet shop here where you can get whatever animal you want!” Hansen exclaimed while holding a crab by the tongs at the seafood counter.
At this point, Michael cuts off the retweet video to claim Hansen’s racist comments.
“I had to stop with that comment about having a pet store in the back of an Asian grocery store,” says Michael. “Like, you have to know how bad that sounds and how bad it looks.”
Michael then switches back to Hansen’s TikTok footage, which includes visible hashtags like “food challenge”, “eww,” “total,” “raw food,” “challenge,” fusion food” and “California food”.
“I know he lives a tasteless life,” someone commented under Michael’s retweet video.
“Brothers shocked by fresh seafood lmao,” another viewer posted.
In another video Reposted by Michael, Hansen is still at the grocery store teasing customers.
“We have a client in training,” Hansen said as an Asian child walked past with a baby stroller.
“Oh,” one TikTok viewer commented under the video. “I usually watch him on YouTube, but I really stop because whenever he eats somewhere with non-American food—”
“The way he uses Asians as props in his videos to tease and entertain,” said another user.
After relentless criticism, Hansen gave 6 minutes Apologies on TikTok on May 20, titled “Sorry” with a scowling emoji. The video was captioned, “No excuses. I’m sorry. I cannot change the past, but I can change the future. I will do better. Thank you.”
“I’ll start by saying I really regret what was released, the way it was released and I’m really responsible and I’m really sorry,” Hansen said. “The video has been removed and I’m here again to put it into words and make sure nothing like this happens again. The video is purely something that has been stimulated, marketed, edited and created for shocking value. With my privileged classes, I really don’t know what this video is like. “
Hansen implied that he did not know how the video was edited and marketed, but that he was still responsible for the production of the video. Hansen then tried to downplay his reaction to the supermarket.
“I never said the words ‘weird’, ‘gross.’ I just wanted to display items that you wouldn’t normally be able to buy in a North American grocery store,” he said in the apologetic video. (Record: T&T is the largest Asian grocery chain in Canada with nearly 30 locations.)
The Daily Beast could not be reached by T&T Supermarket for comment.
“I cannot understand the challenges that another culture is facing,” continued Hansen. “I have always appreciated and respected other cultures. I’ve championed the acceptance of others and am truly, forever, grateful that they have accepted me. I am an ally, and this is something I deeply regret, I should not have done.”
Despite Hansen’s lengthy apology, some TikTok viewers questioned the veracity of his apology.
“Go to the store and apologize,” someone commented under the apology video.
“Where are the tears?” ask another.
“Thank you for doing the bare minimum,” added one user.
Along with the TikTok video, Hansen publishes content on YouTube, where he was notorious for eating items that were considered massive and challenging. According to his page, he bills himself as “a food influencer and competitive eater specializing in grand food adventures, food challenges, dining contests, and restaurant ads.” Hansen has over 450,000 subscribers, and some of his more popular videos have racked up over a million views.
Hansen did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment.
