Streaming platform pulls Chinese drama 'Make My Heart Smile' after backlash over insult to Filipino maids

Chinese streaming platform iQIYI has removed the drama "Make My Heart Smile" after drawing flak online due to a scene which used Filipino maids as an insult.

A screenshot of the scene posted by a Pinoy netizen went viral on Twitter. It showed a man telling a woman, who was trying on some clothes, that she looks "like a Filipino maid."

"As a [Filipino], this is very offensive and disrespectful," the social media user said.

The post now has over 68,000 likes and 16,000 retweets as netizens expressed their anger and defended Filipino domestic helpers.

as a filo, this is very offensive and disrespectful pic.twitter.com/Gi7e0aOX2C

— ?athea !? (@kthseokkity) February 9, 2021

iQIYI addressed the issue on Twitter with a short statement and an apologized for the scene.

"It has come to our attention that there is an offending scene in the show 'Make my Heart Smile.' This is not ok and we have edited the scene out. We are sorry," it said.

It has come to our attention that there is an offending scene in the show “Make my Heart Smile.” This is not ok and we have edited the scene out. We are sorry.

— iQIYI Philippines (@iQIYIph) February 10, 2021

According to PEP.ph, the platform later pulled the series from its catalogue.

"Make My Heart Smile" is a Chinese drama about a group of college students who become friends, fall in love, and chase their dreams together.

—MGP, GMA News