22-year-old local singer Bernice Lee (Benny’s) was in the middle of her performance at the Esplanade on 25 March as part of Panik Records’ showcase for the Esplanade’s Soul Jam series of live music shows.
However, midway during her set, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs, Sim Ann, showed up at the show and was seen shaking hands with audience members in the front row, while Benny’s was still performing.
Her actions were called out by some members of the local music and arts commuting, who voiced their disapproval with her behaviour, calling it disrespectful.
Twitter user @hakiim_m_m_m was one of the netizens who criticised the act, saying:
“you go watch show or talk to friend… go to talk at least sit behind la dont obstruct… better still go meet somewhere it doesnt disrupt art… im sure im missing some context but i cannot not see this as a disrespect to the artist“
“worse is here is minister… and the connotation is traditional values, which respect is part of. ok la you can argue maybe its a small thing but to me, to many of us, it isn’t.”
“ministers alr got a bad rep when it comes to music scene eversince watain and blu jazz so this doesnt help them gain our trust. in fact its doing the opposite. just seems like they dk how to be sensitive to us”
“ok la the watain and blu jazz they got explain ah but this one how to explain? i really cannot wrap my head around this? basic human decency? huh???”
Organisers’ statement
The Esplanade and WWF-Singapore said in a joint statement that Sim Ann was the guest of honour for the Earth Hour Switch Off ceremony at 8.15pm, which was scheduled to begin after the showcase performance.
Sim arrived early and was ushered to her seat to watch the ongoing performance, and that the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre is a free and easy venue where audiences can enter or exit at any time.
They added that when Sim reached her seat, some audience members got up to greet her, and that “there was no intention of disrespecting the artists, performers, or audience, and we regret any disruption that we may have inadvertently caused.”
Sim Ann responds
Speaking to The Straits Times, Sim said that she was following the cues of the organisers and was greeting the people who were introduced to her.
She maintained that she was not trying to disregard the singer on stage bhy the manner of her entry and timing.
Sim also said that she has reached out to the artists involved to explain and that she is sorry for how things turned out.
She added that she “learned something valuable from the incident” and wished them “continued success in their musical endeavours”.