Malaysian rapper Namewee has said his viral duet with Australian-Chinese singer Kimberley Chen was not aimed at insulting China and its people. Hong Kong-based Namewee said he would not want to visit China anymore because of “too much censorship” in the country. “I am [ethnically] Chinese. Am I insulting myself?” Namewee (real name Wee Meng Chee) said of “Fragile” in a statement on his Instagram account.

Released on October 15, the Mandarin-language song has caused a furore in China with its symbolical digs at Chinese President Xi Jinping and the country’s nationalistic netizens often referred to as ‘Little Pinks’. Fragile also broaches sensitive topics such as censorship, COVID-19 and the Uighurs.

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Namewee said he is fond of Chinese culture and has traveled the country as a backpacker over the years. But following the recent controversy, Namewee said he does not want to make any further visits “because there is too much censorship and restrictions” that will affect his creativity. “I do not want to lose the original intent of my creations. That’s all,” said the 38-year-old.

Born in Malaysia in 1983, Namewee has courted controversy in the past as well with his songs and music videos. He has been arrested and detained several times on allegations of insulting other religions and races.

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Since its debut on YouTube on October 15, Fragile’s music video has garnered close to 18 million views and has been trending in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. But while Fragile has been appreciated by fans for its sense of humor, the song has also got Namewee and Chen banned in China. Their Weibo accounts have also been blocked with Chinese authorities accusing Namewee of insulting China and Chinese people.

Namewee said he had never said anything to promote the independence of Hong Kong and Taiwan.

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“My nationality is Malaysian. I cannot speak on their behalf,” he said, adding that he will “definitely stand with freedom and democracy.

The human rights that we were born with are universal values, and that is what [I am] after as a Malaysian. This is why people take to the street to protest over and over again.”