Social media racism, Netflix, Star Wars: 5 Memeburn articles you loved this week

In a week where South African social media users seemed determined to vent forth racially charged spew, there appeared to be precious little for people in the country to celebrate. Old wounds were opened up and, under the scabs, appeared to have festered. Even the arrival of Netflix in the country wasn’t met with universal claim, thanks to catalogue much reduced from what’s available in the US. Heck, even Star Wars: The Force Awakens seems to be coming in for increasing flack.

These were the five most read stories on Memeburn this week.

5. The Force awakens to Star Wars backlash, harsh criticism

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens opened with almost universal praise while smashing box office records. Unfortunately, it hasn’t all been lightsaber battles and heroics for the new movie.

After the onslaught of praise settled, some began to question the movie’s plot, its merchandise marketing, and even those involved with the previous six films spoke out against it. Everyone needs to say their piece and here are a few examples. Read more…

4. #PennySparrow: Twitter isn’t buying estate agent’s half-baked apology

Penny Sparrow, the former estate agent at the centre of a social media storm, has issued an apology for a Facebook post in which she compares black people to monkeys. Twitter though, is not buying the apology.

In her latest post, Sparrow says that she did not mean her post to be “a personal insult to anyone” and that she’s “sorry if you have taken it personally”. Read more…

3. Prominent tech ed Duncan McLeod caught up in racist social media row, charges laid [Update]

TechCentral founder and publisher Duncan McLeod has reportedly had crimen injuria charges laid against him following remarks he made on social media.

The charges laid against McLeod were also leveled against the likes of Penny Sparrow, Chris Hart, and Justin Van Vuuren — all of whom have come under fire in the past few days for racist social media posts. Read more…

2. Netflix officially live in SA at $7.99 a month

South African internet users can now access Netflix without having to resort to the semi-legal methods they’ve used to date.

The world’s biggest video-on-demand service officially became available to South Africans on Wednesday, with prices starting at US$7.99 (+/-R126) a month. Read more…

1. Estate agent calls black people ‘monkeys’ in racist Facebook post

Penny Sparrow, a white estate agent, has raised the ire of South African social media with a Facebook post comparing black people to monkeys.

In her post, Sparrow claims that “these monkeys that are allowed to be released on New Years Eve[sic] and new years day[sic] on to public beaches towns etc obviously have no education what so ever [sic] and to allow them loose is inviting huge dirt and discomfort to others.” Read more…