Arts practitioner and advocate Terence Tan shared on Facebook on Wednesday (29 April) that he has been banned and expelled from the SG COVID-19 Creative/Cultural Professionals & Freelancers Support Group over “fraudulent comments” that he allegedly made on a Facebook post in the group on 2 April.
Mr Tan, who runs the community arts group Artsolute, was a moderator for the SG COVID-19 Creative/Cultural Professionals & Freelancers Support Group which serves as a support group for the creative industry amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
On Wednesday, he stated on Facebook that he was banned and expelled as a moderator and user of the group since 6 April. The group has also denounced the #SupportMADEinSG petition that he started in March that aims to call for more Government support for the creative industry that has been affected by the ongoing pandemic.
“When asked for reasons why, its admin said I made fraudulent comments on the group on the 2nd of this month (see attached),” he wrote.
In the post, he uploaded a screenshot of the comments that the group allegedly deemed as “fraudulent comments”.
“The decision to expel me was discussed and made outside my knowledge, and attempts to engage and reconcile with some moderators concluded today when they asked I “move on” instead of wasting my energies on them,” Mr Tan asserted.
He hinted that he had been quiet about the matter since the day that he was expelled from the group – on 6 April – to keep solidarity with fellow advocates in trying times, but decided to come forward to clarify the matter as he sees no other recourse.
“I have stayed quiet on the details of the matter to keep solidarity with fellow advocates in trying times. With no other recourse, I decided put forward this clarification as I no longer will be in the SG COVID-19 Freelancer group,” Mr Tan remarked.
“I choose to write about this matter because it reveals an inconvenient truth – the atomisation of us advocates, and in turn, the creative scene. Whether it was the challenges of the petition or my comment on retrenchment, a reason to rule out a fellow advocate and moderator was found,” he stated.
Mr Tan indicated that such actions were reductive and unhelpful as there are greater goals to achieve out there, such as fair wages, opportunities, as well as contracts for creatives and artists.
Nevertheless, he clarified that his statement was not to openly denounce the group but to share with the people who support the cause of his petition.
“I write to share with those who support this cause that I still believe our petition, or any other, can bring our needs into attention so targeted assistance and policies may be made. It is a public, legal channel that doesn’t go against other efforts by the government and their agencies; it simply highlights the niche, yet important businesses we do,” Mr Tan explained.
Noting that moderators have it too easy to misjudge and impress others, he asserted that starting a group does not make one better than others, but it’s free power.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve done the same, and I apologise to anyone I may have shut down without clarification or anyone who I’ve unwittingly misinformed. I will move on and I will try to do better,” he noted.
He continued, “Thank you for your support and attention these past weeks. My work for the creatives scene will continue with the remainder of the supportMADEinSG team, and I look forward to future collaborations with you.”
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