Dubai: A Kuwaiti TV show, Block Ghashmarah, provoked the anger of viewers after the show’s actors wore blackface paint to portray a Sudanese character.
The portrayal was met with outrage by Sudanese and non-Sudanese viewers alike, who took to social media to criticise the show for the racist act.The episode also portrayed the fictional marriage of a Sudanese girl as a sales contract, which was also criticised.
On his Instagram account, Hasan Al Ballam, one of the main characters of the comedy show, apologised to the audience:“I do not accept to be a cause of inconvenience to anyone or to cause any harm to any of you.”
He said while the audience “misunderstood” his sense of humour, he would never again make such a mistake.
“I respect the Sudanese people and apologise for the harm that I have caused,” he said.The Sudanese government has vowed to take action to defend and preserve the rights of Sudanese citizens.
The series, directed by Ahmed Al Doghjy and Khalid Al Fadly, is being aired during the month of Ramadan on Kuwait TV 1.
-Hams Saleh is an intern at Gulf News
