Want a free plate of char siew next? Simply get your parents to scold you at a Crystal Jade restaurant.
And not just any phrase but the infamous Cantonese phrase “It’s better to give birth to char siew than give birth to you”.
Trust us, it sounds better in the dialect.
Though we applaud Crystal Jade’s creativity, it seems the promo isn’t flying so well with many who have taken to social media to roast the restaurant chain.
A member of Facebook group Complaint Singapore angrily posted a picture of the promo writing, “Come on Crystal Jade, it is not fun at all!”
The netizen went on to further explain that the phrase in Cantonese is used as a “curse to one’s child, a way of scolding one as useless”.
The post has since garnered more than 270 comments, many calling the ad demeaning.
“The marketing staff should be sacked,” wrote a netizen while another said, “This is what toxic parenting is all about”, calling it “child abuse!”.
Eighteen Chefs founder Benny Se Teo also hopped in on the comments asking, “Which Public Relations agency is behind this?
However, a few online users chided the critics, many asking them to lighten up.
“It doesn’t mean they love their kids any less,” an online user tried to explain while another sarcastically commented, “You must be fun at parties.”
Some were also seen praising the chain for their creativity.
“You fell into their trap. They [Crystal Jade] got more famous now,” jibed a netizen.
A quick check on Crystal Jade’s Facebook showed the post which says, “Think having a char siu is better than having a kid?”
There is even a video where a mum is seen scolding her with the Cantonese insult after complaining about her daughter’s bad habits.
“At least char siew is nice to eat!” said the mum. The clip ends with the phrase: Be better than a char siew.
Scroll down for the video.