This weekend, Chrissy Teigen embroiled herself in social media controversy when she refused to be “offended” at being offered “oriental dressing” during her in-flight meal. But when her followers erupted in anger over her calm, the 30-year-old model probably wished she could return to her salad days – the glorious time before Twitter existed.
When Teigen, who is half Thai, was offered the dressing, she tweeted to her 2.6 million followers: “I really really really really clearly am not a PC type of gal but I’m a little weirded out at the oriental dressing option on my flight.” Shortly afterwards, she posted: “Like if you’re over 50 you can call me oriental to my face but this is a new menu and I’m not a rug.”
When follower @Fletchtopher questioned “@chrissyteigen wait, oriental is offensive?” she responded: “Not offensive, really. Just weird. Old school. Just say Asian.”
That would have been a great place to end the discussion. But considering ABC, Paper Magazine, Fox News and E! Online all picked up the story, you can bet the conversation continued.
Twitterites weren’t ok with Teigen’s leniency. There wasn’t enough outrage. She should be offended!
When follower @Schubie71 labelled the use of “oriental” as “pejorative” and “derogatory,” Teigen persisted in her composure. “I honestly hear you but I disagree. If someone called me oriental, I would not be offended. At most, I would sigh.”
“Ignorance without malice isn’t something I can be offended by,” she stated.
But by the end of her online debate, her annoyance was clear. “I really appreciate all the non-Asians telling me what is offensive to Asians, though. Thank you. Writing it all down.”
The PC world has honestly gone off its rocker.
