Love Amplified – Hady Mirza’s HIV “Joke”
There are two things you must worry about.
Either you’re a man or a woman.
If you’re a woman, you’re safe.
If you’re a man, there are two things you must worry about.
Either you’re serving NS or not serving NS.
If you’re not serving NS, you’re safe.
If you’re serving NS, there are two things you must worry about.
Either you’re on a combat or non-combat vocation.
If you’re on a non-combat vocation, you’re safe.
If you’re on a combat vocation, there are two things you must worry about.
Either there’s a war or no war.
If there’s no war, you’re safe.
If there’s a war, there are two things you must worry about.
Either you die or never die.
If you never die, you’re safe.
If you die, there are two things you must worry about.
Either you’re buried or cremated.
If you’re cremated, you’re safe.
If you’re buried, there are two things you must worry about.
Either you become fertiliser or you don’t.
If you don’t, you’re safe.
If you become fertiliser, there are two things you must worry about.
Either you’re used to grown a plant or a tree.
If you’re used to grown a plant, you’re safe.
If you’re used to grown a tree, there are two things you must worry about.
Either you’re recycled into tissue paper or into writing paper.
If you’re recycled into writing paper, you’re safe.
If you’re recycled into tissue paper, there are two things you must worry about.
Either you’re used by a man or woman.
If you’re used by a man, you’re safe.
If you’re used by a woman, there are two things you must worry about.
Either she use you in front or behind.
If you’re used behind, you’re safe.
If you’re used in front, there are two things you must worry about.
Either you get Gonorrhea or AIDS.
If you get Gonorrhea, you’re safe.
If you get AIDS, you die lah!
Courtesy of the oh-so-clever Hady Mirza, Singapore Idol & Asian Idol, at the Love Amplified, World AIDS Day Concert.
At least that’s the main geist, if you were there and heard the “joke” yourself, feel free to correct me in the comments if I made any mistakes.
If anyone of you find it funny or tickling in any way, leave a comment too. I would be curious to find out where you got your education and I’ll be sure to avoid sending my children there in the future.
Plus, there’s a story of the whole incident on the TNP (they mentioned me!).
Full article and video recording of the whole incident after the jump.
HADY LEARNS THE HARD WAY
Singer says sorry after gaffe at Aids concert
By Benson Ang and Germaine LimDecember 05, 2008
IT was a wisecrack that fell flat.
Asian Idol Hady Mirza has found himself the target of criticism after a performance on Saturday night.
The 28-year-old singer was on stage at the Love Amplified concert at Fort Canning Park and had told the crowd what he termed ‘an intelligent joke’.
But the gag did not go down well with some concert goers.
Hady had shared the joke, titled Two Things, before his third song of the night.
It was a five-minute long gag that ended up implying that if you contract HIV or Aids, ‘you will die, lah’.
To make matters worse, the concert was Singapore’s first World Aids Day concert, organised by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to raise awareness of HIV/Aids.
It was also to commemorate World Aids Day, which was on 1 Dec.
Some have complained that the joke was ‘distasteful’ and some Singaporeans blogged about it online.
When The New Paper contacted Hady, he expressed regret and was very apologetic.
He said: ‘I wanted to lighten the mood. I thought a light-hearted joke could loosen up everyone.
‘It was my mistake. I definitely didn’t mean to offend anyone. It was purely unintentional.
‘In hindsight, it was the wrong occasion to tell such a joke.’
Hady, the Singapore Idol Season 2 winner in 2006, also said he did not think up the joke.
He said a friend had e-mailed him a video of the joke being told by an African amateur stand-up comedian.
Ironically, the joke was told at an Aids benefit concert, but Hady cannot remember where and when it took place.
Hady admitted that once he delivered the punchline, he immediately knew something was wrong as the audience seemed surprised.
But he maintained his cool and went on to sing U2′s Beautiful Day.
His other songs were Malay number Merpati and George Michael’s Freedom 90 from his 2006 album.
Hady said it was only when he headed backstage after his performance that he realised what he had done.
An HPB official approached him and expressed concern over how the joke might have treated the subject of Aids too casually.
Similarly, radio deejay Jean Danker, who was the host of the event, also approached him.
Hady said: ‘Jean came over and asked if everything was fine and if I was feeling okay.
‘I felt very bad when I realised what I had done and immediately apologised to the HPB official. I’ve also written HPB a formal letter of apology.’
He added: ‘I would never want to downplay the efforts of the other performers. I hope my joke has not undermined the message of the concert and World Aids Day, and the organiser’s aim.’
Hady said that when he went back on stage for the finale, he immediately apologised to the crowd.
‘I also emphasised we should not discriminate those who are HIV-infected,’ he added.
Artistes who also participated in the concert included singer Stefanie Sun, local band Electrico and actor Hossan Leong.
According to HPB, 3,600 people attended the concert.
‘Unfortunate incident’
When contacted, HPB’s deputy director of corporate communications, Ms Patricia Woo, said: ‘Yes, we are aware of this incident but there has not been any feedback from the public.
‘This unplanned incident is unfortunate.’
The executive director of voluntary organisation Action for Aids (AFA) , Mr Lionel Lee, who was at the concert, told The New Paper: ‘I believe Hady was trying to engage the audience out of goodwill. And he might have been nervous.
‘But if he’s going to attend a concert for a specific cause, maybe he should have read up more about the cause and things relating to it.
‘Through the concert, we hope to spread the message of love and normalisation of people living with HIV.’
He added: ‘The joke also doesn’t really make sense, because just because a person has HIV does not mean this person will die from it.
‘But, on the whole, the messages presented during the concert were very good. Hady’s joke was not a major issue. It’s just that it might present him in a bit of a bad light.
‘We hope he can be a good role model for youth.’
Mr Lee added that AFA has not received any formal complaints about the incident.
Concert-goers The New Paper spoke to said they were surprised at Hady’s words.
Ms Leona Lo, a 33-year-old public relations consultant, said: ‘The joke was quite distasteful and inappropriate.
‘But Hady obviously isn’t a professional comedian, and he was trying his best, so I forgive him. The joke just fell flat.’
The blogosphere, however, was less sympathetic.
On Mr Lim Is The Best blog, a blogger identified only as Mr Lim wrote: ‘How can (Hady be allowed) to make such a (distasteful) joke and get away with saying an obviously insincere ‘sorry’?’
Digital strategist Pat Law also wrote on her blog, Blank Canvas: ‘The only part that was remotely funny was when (Hady) claimed it was an ‘intelligent’ joke.
‘I bet the organisers were freaking out.’
Mr Law’s friend, Tania, was less harsh.
Her response to Ms Law’s post read: ‘Not HPB’s fault. Just a silly boy without a clue.’
Far from being controversial, Hady is known to be happy-go-lucky.
It is the chirpy crooner’s smooth vocals that have won him many fans.
He is also known to imitate others but always in jest.
But this time, even Hady had to admit his winning personality traits were his undoing.
He said: ‘I guess I was too easy-going when I shouldn’t have been. I pushed the boundaries too far.’
Wow! You must be thrilled to get mentioned in the New Paper. The man has apologised, he’s remorseful, let’s leave him alone. He’ll learn from his mistakes. You don’t have to rub in the salt. Who knows, someday, you’ll make your own big mistake, you’ll wish people are more forgiving.
Isn’t it sexist as well? Like you can get AIDS from a woman, but you can’t get a from a man…
Oh come on!!! Give him break, man!!
Why are you being so tight? I think if you were a happier man that night you’d laugh at every little thing. Relax man, and you’ll be happier. Stop making a mountain out of a mole!
You’re so lame, mr lim!
Feeling so proud that you’re mentioned in the papers? cheap thrill eh?
and now you put the picture of hady’s fans here.. you think it’s funny? how distasteful is that?
Yes, I’m thrilled. You can see me hopping around my room in pure joy. Damn! You people must be geniuses figuring that out!
Making a mountain out of a mole(hill)? Tell that to TNP who decided to report on this? (which was probably what led you here to my humble blog in the first place)
Molly, yes, that thought did occur to me. In this case, can his little “joke” be considered seditious?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnGNuRQPl8Y
I doubt so. I think the Sedition Act has so far only been applied to (negative) racial and religious remarks, not to gender prejudice. (Otherwise cannot make homophobic remarks liao).
But maybe his idea of safe sex is anal sex if we read into this idea that one can’t get AIDs from a woman’s behind (assuming that your version if accurate). This might have some implications with regard to religions that don’t allow anal sex. He might be censured by his religious leaders, even if there’s no violation of the law.
Hi! Has anyone here heard of any Aids patients who didnt die?
No, no.. not molehill. I intended to say ‘mole’, as in PCK’s mole. Loosen up, man! You’re too serious to even catch my joke!
First of all, i have nothing against Hady the poor boy. In fact i liked his healthy image and good vocals. But however hard I tried, I simply don’t find the joke funny in the wee bit! Even if the joke is told in a different occasion like a party, I don’t find it funny!!?
Now to tell such a joke at such an occasion, and to claim that it’s for the fun of it, he must be downright insensitive, totally clueless or doesn’t genuinely care about HIV-infected or AIDs people. Then why perform at the concert in the first place? I don’t have to “do some research” on World AIDS Day (as suggested by HPB to Hady) to know what it is about. The truth is, if he’s truly brought up and educated the right way, honestly, he’ll never make such an “honest” mistake.
I’ve seen the vid that you upload. Mr Lim ..you must remember that Hady is not a comedian but he is a good singer.
If the same old joke is being delivered by a natural comedian…you’ll find it funny or you just don’t bother abt it. He’s sincere with his apologies
singing is Hady’s forte; stand-up comedy is just not for him. he learnt it the hard way that night. its not a deadly mistake, so lets forgive and forget ! After all, he’s only human
Please remove the picture of hady and fans. Someone in my family is there. Anyway the picture has got no connection with this hiv issue at all. Thanks.
Problem solved, I apologize for any distress I may have caused.
Thank you !
I am shocked! Shocked why did Hady think his joke is intelligent? I found it was very silly and cheapo! you know the meaning of Cheapo? It is really cheap man! especially When I saw the youtube video of Hady expression when he told the joke. still he can laugh while he’s not even completing his sentence? and He said all those with confidence?
I am shocked! I am surprised. so I know what qualities in an Asian Idol who ” happened” to win the title.
Hady has to learn more things to be famous..to be the asian Idol…to be someone that Singapore will proud of…
he has to learn how to be ” intelligent” for real.
He has to learn how to just sing and perform in a concert without knowing the purpose of the concert.
I am a neutral here…I just wanna convey my deepest concern for a famous to be Asian Idol whom I believe, his journey to be famous is still long to go….
Be good, Hady.
I think when Hady said it’s an intelligent joke, he’s actually giving credit to the original comedian who delivered the stand up comic. Having seen him numerous times on tv and watching & listening to his interviews, he comes across as a very humble guy. He wont brag about himself.
So much fuss over a “joke” that was meant to wake ppl up to the seriousness of the disease!!
I say, thank you, Hady!
If not for this “lame joke”, some ppl would still regard this “safe sex” concert like just any concert, go home and have more sex – safe or otherwise!
Think about it, at the end of the “joke”, he said, “you die lah”. Die here has many meanings, not only death. To me it also means the death of – a healthy body, career and social life (may i include the possibility of death of the will to live?)
If you contracted the decease, you’ll be faced with a mountain of medical bills. You won’t get a job if you’re known as an HIV carrier. People shun you no matter how you got it in the first place (thanks to those who frequent prostitutes overseas and so caringly share the virus with the spouses/partners when they get home. Sorry to say, Aids and HIV still carry a negative stigma)
Is this the kind of life you wish for? Sounds To me, the message behind the “joke” is, BE SAFE! either you abstain or stay true to an uninfected partner.
Condom makers never give a 100% assurance that you won’t get AIDS or HIV do they?
agree with Zoe…I think it’s kinda cheap and silly Joke.
Even though he meant nothing than trying to engage the audience but still it’s no joke at all.
the word : you die lah….
It’s like a curse to those suffering from HIV.
It’s like we discriminate those who suffer from HIV.
It’s like putting a BIG regret to those HIV people and saying ” your mistake, your choice, you live it and die soon.
Hope Hady be careful in what he says. people might Intemperate differently. He is a role model tof Singapore. He is the singapore idol. he is the asian Idol. He must be smart enough to choose what to say in a performance.
this is to gene afrit:
Ya got shit fer brains. Enough said.
after watching the video, i tend to agree with gene afrit, the phrase “you die lah” is nothing more than just a “singlish slang phrase” that we ourselves often used in our daily conversations, unless you peeps don’t use singlish at all. I think it is just misinterpretation of phrase.
Let’s not judge him with this minute miscommunication, while he has brought glory to our country and he even did many other voluntary work for charities and societies, which many of us has not done including myself!.
Moving forward people, there are many other important issues that we can look into besides Aids.
Cheers! Lets move on.
This guy is a complete embarrassment and disgrace to Singapore. It just goes to show how shallow and superficial Singaporeans are…. Firstly people above say he is only a Singer… Come on, he was voted Singapore Idol which the judges say should be a role model and inspiration for Singaporeans! No, he is not just some local singer who worked his way up singing in local bars and only knows how to sing. He was voted by Singapore to be their Singapore Idol! Shame on you Hady! You should really show your sincerity by volunteering for an HIV or AIDS organization and help those suffering if you are really sincere with your apology otherwise you are just another superficial ass here!