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Social media influencer and content creator Ashley Barkis made an apology video for hurling racist comments at an Asian family a few days ago. However, her claim of being half-Filipino was strongly criticized by netizens.
On May 18, 2023, @sam.anthabong shared a video on TikTok where Ashley was seen violently charging at an Asian man and his family for allegedly hitting her car. She was evidently rude with her approach and asked the man about his driving license and if he was even legal to be in the USA.
The internet was fuming as Ashley kicked the man into the approaching traffic at one point. They said the influencer should be arrested on charges of attempt to murder. Though Ashley likely went MIA from social media after receiving the backlash, she came back with an apology video but supposedly deleted her profile again.
Part of the video was reposted on Twitter and TikTok by several creators, including @ellenacuario, who strongly condemned her excuse of being half-Filipino to downplay her racism. Ashley said that she:
"apologize for any offense to the Asian community, as I am half Filipino."
One Twitter user noted again that the influencer needs to be arrested for pushing the man almost near oncoming traffic.
What did Ashley Barkis say in her apology video?
In the apology video, Ashley Barkis said that she would like to apologize to the Asian family for any pain or grief that she might have caused them. She added that she does not condone any form of violence or racism against anyone. However, netizens claimed that it was exactly what she did two days ago.
Ashley Barkis admitted to appearing agitated and aggressive in the TikTok video that was circulating on social media. However, she claimed that it was not her true character. At this point, Twitter user @rx0rcist said that a few people reached out to them with receipts that Ashley used to be racist to them all the time.
The influencer further claimed that the video does not show the entire story and there were certain things that were taken out of context. She stated that she only wanted to take proper pictures of the other driver's driving license, but it was difficult to do so because the Asian driver was not properly holding out his license.
Ashley said that she understands that there were a lot of other ways she could have handled the situation without resorting to frustration and violence. She said towards the end of her apology video:
"I hope you guys understand now that I am not at all racist. I'm just a human being who needs a little bit more practice."
@rx0rcist pointed out how Ashley did not apologize for almost killing the Asian man when she pushed him in front of the moving traffic. Other users also did not find sincerity in her apology.
In the comments under TikToker @ellenacuario, aka Your Funny Unni's video, many people were angry at Ashley Barkis and said that she would not have behaved in such a way if she was actually half Filipino.
Your Funny Unni also explained that her Filipino husband always talks about how his grandparents struggled to find a footing in America and be recognized as legal immigrants. She added that if Ashley Barkis was truly a part of the Filipino culture, there was no way she could have just spouted the racist comments on the Asian family and asked them if they were legal in America.
Your Funny Unni sarcastically noted how Ashley Barkis was so disconnected with the Filipino culture and had a lot of internalized racism to undo.
Netizens say Ashley Barkis is not genuinely sorry for her actions
Since Ashley deleted or deactivated her Instagram account where she posted her apology video, it was gone before many people could see it. However, Your Funny Unni on TikTok has made an analysis video on Ashley's apology.
The TikToker said that Ashley's Filipino pride card has been revoked after how she asked another Asian person if he was legal to be in America when she herself was a person of color and a probable immigrant in the US. Filipino users also commented that they do not want to consider or claim Ashley as one of their own.
After Ashley deactivated or deleted her Instagram account, another account surfaced on social media platform that appeared to belong to the influencer. However, netizens suspected it must be a troll account since the captions on the posts seemed unserious.
As of this article's writing, no further updates has been made by Ashley Barkis or why she suddenly deactivated/deleted her Instagram account.
