When a Slant‑Eye Gesture Sparks a Social‑Media Debate on Racism

When Sukas apologized for missing a no‑entry sign, a nearby resident twisted his eyes into a slant‑eye gesture. Sukas immediately labelled the gesture as racist; the man replied that he hoped the motorcycle was broken.
Rather than helping, the man photographed the bike and the streamer. The footage was later verified with Google Maps, and the clip quickly spread across social media, prompting a polarized response that ranged from apologies to criticism that Sukas should not have ridden a bike he could not lift.
Sukas later told Singapore’s Mothership that he was not offended at all and described the man as comical, even noting the man’s tongue was sticking out.
Swiss comedian Ahmet Bilge amplified the debate by calling the resident’s behaviour disgusting and racist in a TikTok video, while many online users argued the episode painted a poor picture of Switzerland and the canton of Obwalden.
The episode illustrates how cultural gestures can be misinterpreted and how quickly social media can magnify such misunderstandings, turning a local dispute into an international conversation about racism and cross‑cultural communication.