A recent TikTok video by Singaporean teenager Zoe Gabriel has gone viral and sparked a conversation about privilege and luxury. In the video, Gabriel expresses her gratitude to her father for gifting her her “first luxury bag” from local fashion brand Charles and Keith.
However, some users on the platform criticized the statement, arguing that the brand is not truly luxury.
In response, Gabriel posted a follow-up video on TikTok. In the video, she tearfully explains her humble background and talks about privilege. She shared that her family moved to Singapore from the Philippines in 2010 and struggled to afford even basic necessities like bread.
Her mature response to the criticism has impressed many viewers, including the team at Charles and Keith. A company spokesman said, “Our heart really went out to Zoe, but we were so impressed with how gracefully she handled the situation, displaying wisdom far beyond her years and values that resonated with us greatly.”
In recognition of her handling of the situation, Charles and Keith has extended an invitation to Gabriel and her father to have lunch with its founders and take a tour of the company’s headquarters. The incident has also sparked a conversation about the blind spots of privilege in Singapore.
