Nigel Ng Kin-ju[a] (/ʌŋ/UNG; born 1990/1991) is a Malaysian comedian and YouTuber. He is best known for co-creating (alongside Evelyn Mok) and portraying Uncle Roger, a character representing a middle-aged Asian uncle with an exaggerated Cantonese accent who is usually seen aggressively critiquing people's attempts at cooking Asian food.
Ng previously worked as a data scientist at Monzo[6] and maintained a GitHub account.[7][8][9] Inspired to pursue a comedy career in part by the work of Hong Kong comedy actor Stephen Chow,[5] he made his TV debut in 2018 on Comedy Central's Stand Up Central.[10][11] He hosted the comedy podcasts Rice to Meet You with UK-based Swedish comedian Evelyn Mok.[12][13][14] and HAIYAA with Nigel Ng with his producer Matt.[15] On 2 January 2021, he uploaded his first video on the Chinese video sharing website Bilibili.[16] In 2021, he appeared on the 19th season premiere episode of the British comedy show Mock the Week.[17]
Uncle Roger
Ng is best known for his comedic alter ego Uncle Roger, representing a middle-aged Asian uncle who speaks with a pronounced and exaggerated Cantonese accent and prides himself on various East and Southeast Asian stereotypes.[12][18] His podcast partner Evelyn Mok came up with the middle-aged Asian uncle character for a sitcom with Ng in mind, and Ng further developed the character on TikTok and Instagram sketches before moving the character onto YouTube.[19][20][21]
In July 2020, Ng attracted attention for an Uncle Roger video critiquing Hersha Patel's BBC Food video on cooking egg-fried rice.[22] After the video went viral, Ng and Patel appeared on BBC Food together[23] and collaborated on a YouTube video.[24] In August, he spent a day working in Elizabeth Haigh's restaurant, Mei Mei. The following month, he posted a critique video with regards to Gordon Ramsay's fried rice and praised Ramsay for having correct technique.[25] He has released numerous videos critiquing Jamie Oliver's versions of popular Asian dishes like Egg fried rice,[26] Thai green curry,[19] and Ramen.[27]
On 22 May 2023, it was reported that Ng's Chinese social media accounts (Bilibili and Weibo)[31] had been closed down in response to perceived criticism of China's government in his stand-up comedy special. Saying:"This Nephew using Huawei phone, they all listening."[32]
The accent Ng uses for the Uncle Roger character has received criticism for perpetuating negative stereotypes about Asians.[17][19][38][39] Chef J. Kenji López-Alt (who is of Japanese descent) said, "I don't like that [Ng's] schtick seems to give a free pass to people to imitate stereotypical Asian speech patterns and pronunciation, especially as it's almost always non-Asians doing the imitating. It's ugly, it's yellowface, it's not funny, and it promotes anti-Asian racism at a time when Asians are already being heavily discriminated against."[19][40] In response, Ng has said that it highlights the difference in the perception of Asian stereotypes between Asians living in Asia and Asian-Americans.[19] His critique video of Patel's egg-fried rice has been described as making the viewers "fall for every cultural 'trap' his character sets", overlooking the differences of rice cooking methods in Indian cuisine, and turning East and Southeast Asians into "rice-cooking supremacists" with his "faux encouragement".[41]
On 12 January 2021, Ng apologized on the Chinese social media platform Weibo and deleted a video featuring fellow YouTuber Mike Chen,[42] who had been critical of the Chinese Communist Party and had also been associated with the ultra-conservative movement Falun Gong.[43] He stated, "This video has made a bad social impact... I wasn't aware of his political thoughts and his past incorrect remarks about China. I hope you can give Uncle Roger, who has just entered China, a chance to improve!"[44] His response attracted criticism on Twitter.[45] In his first subsequent video as Uncle Roger, he said he would "keep making funny videos [...] no politics, no drama".[12][46]
On 30 July 2023, Ng stated in an Uncle Roger video, "Not all Southeast Asia has good food. You don't want food from Laos and Cambodia." He also jokingly called Laotian food an inferior version of Thai food, causing criticism and backlash from both Laotian and Cambodian communities. In a response video to Laotian chef Ae Southammavong challenging him to try Laotian food she had cooked, Ng accepted the challenge and explained his comments by saying, "All the Laos food I had so far... not my favourite. Asian people criticizing other Asian people is just a way of life."[47]Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism issued a statement condemning Ng's remarks as damaging to the image of its cuisine and demanding an apology.[48] The Embassy of Malaysia in Phnom Penh distanced Malaysia from Ng's remarks, saying that "[t]hey do not in any way reflect our view".[49]
Ng has stated that he does not want any of his viewers to spread hate towards anyone.[50]
Personal life
Nigel lived in the Hammersmith district of London.[12][51] In 2020, he discussed being the victim of an anti-Asian assault in London.[51][52] He currently lives in Los Angeles after having lived in London for several years.
References
^In this Malaysian Hokkien Chinesename, the surname is Ng. In accordance with custom, the Western-style name is Nigel Ng and the Chinese-style name is Ng Kin-ju.
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