Ashley Barkis car accident video goes viral, Is she arrested as she racially abuses Asians?

Ashley Barkis, a popular YouTuber and Tiktok influencer, released a video which goes viral in which she apologized for making racist comments against an Asian family during a car accident.

A few days ago, On May 18, 2023, @sam.anthabong, a TikTok user, shared a video where Ashley confronts an Asian man and his family, following an alleged incident where the man supposedly hit Ashley’s car. In the video, Ashley approaches the man in an aggressive manner, questioning him about his driver’s license and immigration status in the United States.

In case the police aren’t helpful. 🫶🏻 I’m going to bed now. 🥰 pic.twitter.com/5jULKPHGvt

— Savannah • Charlatan, PharmD, IBCLC (she/her) (@rx0rcist) May 18, 2023

@24hourfitness @SanDiegoCounty @SanDiegoPD Ashley Barkis needs to be arrested immediately. Pushing someone into traffic is ATTEMPTED MURDER. pic.twitter.com/ahw31If7oT

— AC Marie (@ACMarie6) May 18, 2023

After Ashley kicked the man, causing him to fall into oncoming traffic, a wave of outrage swept across the internet. Many people demanded that the influencer be apprehended on suspicion of attempted murder.

Faced with intense criticism, Ashley likely retreated from social media, only to reappear later with an apology video before ultimately deleting her profile once again. Among those condemning her actions was @ellenacuario, a prominent figure in the industry, who strongly criticized Ashley’s attempt to justify her behavior by mentioning her Filipino heritage.

Portions of the apology video were shared on Twitter and TikTok by various content creators. In the video, Ashley expressed regret for any disrespect she may have caused the Asian community due to her half Filipino background.

She specifically apologized to the Asian family depicted in the video for the suffering she inflicted upon them. Ashley emphasized that she does not endorse racism or violence against anyone. However, internet users were quick to point out that her recent actions contradicted her claims just two days prior.

What Ashley Barkis say in her apology video?

During her apology video, Ashley Barkis sincerely expressed her apologies to the Asian family, acknowledging any pain or distress she may have caused them. She emphasized her strong disapproval of violence and racism towards anyone. However, online users argued that her recent actions contradicted her statements from just two days prior.

Ashley admitted to displaying agitation and aggression in the TikTok video that had gone viral. She insisted that it did not reflect her true character. At this point, a Twitter user named @rx0rcist claimed that several individuals had reached out to them with evidence of Ashley’s ongoing racist behavior towards them.

The influencer went on to explain that the video circulating on social media failed to present the complete story and certain aspects were taken out of context. Ashley clarified that her intention was solely to capture clear images of the other driver’s license, but encountered difficulties as the Asian driver was not properly presenting it.

Ashley acknowledged that there were numerous alternative approaches she could have taken to handle the situation without resorting to frustration and violence. She expressed her understanding of this fact and acknowledged her responsibility for not choosing a more appropriate course of action.

She said towards the end of her apology video:

“I hope you guys understand now that I am not at all racist. I’m just a human being who needs a little bit more practice.”

@rx0rcist pointed out how Ashley did not apologize for almost killing the Asian man when she pushed him in front of the moving traffic. Other users also did not find sincerity in her apology.

Replying to @taga-ilog 🫣the indignations she got telling people so BOLDLY ✨Now U KNO CAN UNDERSTAND I AM NOT AT ALL RAS€IST✨ #itbeyourownpeoplesometimes #ashleybarkis #filipinopriderevoked #californiaroadrage #asianpeopleproblems

♬ original sound – Your Funny Unni

Under TikToker @ellenacuario’s video, many commenters expressed anger towards Ashley Barkis and suggested that her behavior would have been different if she truly identified as half Filipino.

Your Funny Unni, in response, shared that her Filipino husband often talks about the challenges his grandparents faced in establishing themselves as legal immigrants in America. She argued that if Ashley Barkis genuinely embraced Filipino culture, she would not have made racist comments towards the Asian family or questioned their legal status in the United States.

Your Funny Unni sarcastically highlighted Ashley Barkis’ apparent disconnection from Filipino culture and suggested that she had internalized racism that needed to be addressed and rectified.

Netizens Demanding her Arrest

Ashley Barkis’ Instagram account, where she uploaded her apology video, either got removed or deactivated, resulting in limited viewership. However, a TikTok channel called Your Funny Unni created a video analyzing and discussing Ashley’s explanation.

In the video, Your Funny Unni argued that Ashley had forfeited her right to claim pride in her Filipino heritage by questioning the legal status of another Asian individual, despite being a person of color herself and potentially an immigrant in the United States. Users from the Philippines expressed their disassociation from Ashley and their unwillingness to consider her as part of their community.

Following the cancellation or deletion of her own Instagram account, another account claiming to belong to Ashley emerged. However, internet users speculated that it might be a troll account due to the humorous nature of the post captions, which deviated from a serious tone. At the time of writing, Ashley Barkis has not provided any explanation for the sudden removal of her Instagram account.

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