By Tursunjan Uyghur
According to Axios’s Sara Fischer, a TikTok executive who spoke out against the Uyghur genocide in China has resigned. CEO Shou Chew stated that COO Vanessa Pappas has chosen to step down to pursue her entrepreneurial interests. Pappas’ condemnation of the Uyghur genocide was considered uncommon for an employee of the Chinese-owned company.
Pappas’s acknowledgment of the ongoing Uyghur genocide came at the same time as Chew’s widely criticized testimony before Congress in March, highlighting a sharp contrast between the two.
In an exchange with Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) Chew took pains to avoid acknowledging the persecution of the Uyghurs:
LESKO: Do you agree that the Chinese government has persecuted the Uyghur population?
CHEW: Congresswoman, if you use our app and you open it, you will find our users, who give all sorts of content on-
LESKO: That’s not my question. My question is: Do you agree that the Chinese government has persecuted the Uyghur population?
CHEW: Well, it’s deeply concerning to hear about all accounts of human rights abuse, my role here is to explain what our platform does-
LESKO: I think you’re being pretty evasive. It’s pretty easy question: Do you agree that the Chinese government has persecuted the Uyghur population?
CHEW: Congresswoman, I’m here to describe TikTok and what we do as a platform. And as a platform, we allow our users to freely express themselves on this issue and any other issue that matters to them.
LESKO: Well, you didn’t answer the question.
Chew said that Pappas will remain a strategic advisor to the company.
The post TikTok Executive Who Condemned Uyghur Genocide Leaves Role first appeared on Mediaite.
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