Viral video draws backlash after influencer mocks Indian shoplifter’s accent; fellow creator calls out racism
An Indian-origin content creator in the US has publicly criticised a TikToker for mocking the accent of a woman of Indian descent caught shoplifting, calling the act “so uneducated” and racially insensitive. The controversial video, posted by @itsjustluxe, shows the TikToker mimicking the Indian woman who appeared in a police bodycam video pleading with officers to let her pay for the items she allegedly stole, reported news18.com.
“When the punchline is that we sound weird, I’ve learned something about you,” says creator Cassandra Jerome.
The TikTok titled “Indian lady at Target” quickly went viral, amassing over 1.4 million views. In the clip, the influencer mocks the woman’s accent and laughs loudly at her pleas—sparking outrage from many viewers, including Cassandra Jerome, an Indian-origin creator who condemned the video as racist.
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While acknowledging that some accent-based jokes can be humorous when done with nuance, Jerome argued that mocking someone purely for “sounding weird” reveals ignorance, not wit
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“All it tells me is that your worldview hasn’t moved much past your nose,” she said, adding that she too has been judged for her accent in the US
Jerome’s response video struck a chord with many online users. One person commented, “When the joke is the accent itself, we’ve lost the plot.” Another user noted, “It’s especially frustrating when it’s coming from another person of colour—we should be lifting each other up, not tearing each other down.” Others highlighted the diversity of Indian accents, criticising how only a single stereotyped version is targeted.
