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| Netizens Divided Over Karl Ting’s “Don’t Fly Economy” Remarks (Photo: Instagram/Karl Ting) |
What was meant to be a cheeky travel vlog quickly turned into a full-blown online lesson in reading the room. Hong Kong actor Karl Ting Tze Long recently found himself at the centre of a social media storm after a short Instagram video about flying sparked heated debate, criticism, and a trending topic across Chinese platforms.
The video, filmed at the airport with fellow Hong Kong actresses Jinny Ng and Joey Thye, showed the trio heading overseas to film a travel programme in Australia. It opened like a harmless behind-the-scenes clip, with the caption joking about “how to survive a 10-hour flight in Economy”. So far, so relatable.
Then came the twist.
The next shot revealed all three of them fast asleep in spacious Business Class seats, followed by the on-screen words: “Don’t fly Economy.”
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Karl Ting even added a “sorry not sorry” caption, clearly aiming for humour. Instead, many viewers felt the joke landed badly and crossed into uncomfortable territory.
Almost immediately, comment sections lit up. Netizens accused the actor of showing off, being out of touch, and mocking people who regularly fly Economy.
Some questioned whether flying Business Class somehow made someone “better”, while others said the video felt dismissive of everyday travellers.
Before long, the topic “Why is Karl Ting getting scolded?” began trending on Chinese social media as the clip went viral.
As the criticism grew louder, Karl responded with a follow-up Instagram reel to address the situation directly. This time, the tone was serious.
He admitted that the video had gone viral “in a bad way” and apologised to viewers who felt uncomfortable or upset.
According to Karl Ting, there was no intention to show off or promote any kind of lifestyle superiority. However, he acknowledged that intention does not cancel impact.
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He admitted the team lacked foresight and did not think carefully enough about how the joke could be perceived, especially given the size of his audience.
He also stressed that the video was created purely for entertainment while travelling to film the variety show, and was never meant to send out any message about values, class, or money.
Rather than brushing it off, Karl Ting said he would take the incident as a learning experience and be more mindful moving forward.
Reactions since the apology have been mixed. Some fans accepted his explanation, saying everyone makes mistakes and that owning up matters more than being defensive.
Others remained unconvinced, arguing that public figures should be more aware of how “casual jokes” can come across in a very real world where travel is a luxury for many.
Still, a portion of viewers pointed out that the backlash itself reflects changing expectations for celebrities today. Audiences are less forgiving of content that feels disconnected from everyday realities, even when it is framed as humour.
So was it just a poorly judged joke, or a reminder that relatability matters more than ever? Scroll back, rewatch the clip, and decide for yourself. What do you think, honest mistake or fair criticism?