TikTok livestreamers must be accountable for language used

She said some customers had bought six or seven items before requesting to cancel four or five of them after the livestream ended, and questioned whether this was fair to other customers who had been waiting to make purchases.

Mock apology sparks more backlash

The controversy did not end there.

The livestreamers faced another round of criticism after posting what initially seemed to be an apology.

In the video, Heng appeared emotional and wiped her eyes with a tissue before the apology turned out to be sarcastic.

The pair laughed and mocked the prospect of apologising, with Heng telling those expecting an apology that they could “wait long long”.

They also described themselves as “Singapore’s best livestreamers”.

The response prompted further backlash from viewers who felt they were doubling down on their earlier behaviour rather than showing remorse.

Pair later address controversy separately

Heng and Eng later addressed the controversy separately in more serious videos.

Heng acknowledged that she had gone too far during the original livestream and should not have used foul language or cursed the customers.

The saga also prompted discussion among other local livestreamers and personalities, with livestreamer Jaylene Hong among those who weighed in on the controversy.

‘Prioritise basic respect and accountability’

Anonymous told Stomp she had watched Heng and Eng’s livestreams and was troubled by what she described as their attitude towards viewers who commented on their behaviour.

She questioned whether enough was being done to hold livestreamers accountable for their conduct on publicly accessible platforms.

“As a nation that takes pride in being law-abiding and upholding standards, we must recognise that freedom of speech doesn’t give anyone the licence to harass or humiliate others,” she said.

Anonymous also questioned whether TikTok should take stronger action when such incidents are reported.

“TikTok has a responsibility to take action against such behaviour, ensuring that reporting incidents leads to tangible consequences, rather than allowing perpetrators to continue livestreaming with impunity,” she said.

She felt the issue went beyond the conduct of individual livestreamers, questioning what impression such behaviour could give viewers about Singapore.

“It’s time for us to draw a line and prioritise basic respect and accountability over views and followers,” she added.

“Singaporeans are watching, and it’s crucial that we take a stand.”

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