A restaurant in the bustling heart of Singapore’s Amoy Street has been the center of controversy during a dustup with the Italian ambassador to the country.
Gotti Italiano faced criticism for naming an event “Hip Hop Mafioso,” which was highlighted through promotional materials featuring images of iconic rappers Snoop Dogg and 2Pac.
The Italian ambassador to Singapore, Dante Brandi, voiced his disapproval, labeling the association with the mafia and the utilization of such imagery as “definitely of dubious taste”.
Ambassador Brandi’s concern, expressed via a Facebook post, centered on the glorification of a criminal mindset and the mafia, elements that have historically pained Italy.
“Mafia is not what my country is proud of. People have died and suffered because of it and – most importantly – people have died and are still dying and suffering to fight it,” the ambassador elucidated, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the emotional impact on those who have battled against mafia influence.
Gotti Italiano took swift action, retracting all promotional content related to the disputed Hip Hop Mafioso event and issuing a public apology for any offense caused.
They stated, “Despite the event starting at 7 pm, as soon as we received Ambassador Dante’s note on Facebook around 8 pm, we took immediate action to remove all marketing communications associated with the event as soon as possible.”
The restaurant emphasized its respect for Ambassador Brandi and Italian culture, stating that future events would be conceived with a keen sensitivity towards cultural implications.
Furthermore, Gotti Italiano addressed the ambassador’s concerns regarding the establishment’s name, revealing an openness to constructive dialogue.
“We are considering all options moving forward. We remain committed to honoring Italian culture and history in every aspect of our business, including our name,” they conveyed, indicating a potential reevaluation of their branding strategy to better reflect cultural heritage and sensibilities.
As conversations around cultural appropriation and sensitivity continue to evolve, the incident serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between creative expression and cultural respect.