A Bali running club known for its “silent disco” runs is in hot water after screenshots were leaked online that allegedly show bias towards foreigners while Indonesian residents are automatically rejected or put under review.
View this post on Instagram
The controversy surrounding Entourage Bali, which was founded by two Dutch men, began when netizens shared their experiences applying for the running club and being barred entry when specifying their nationality or using a local phone number. One resident alleged that her application was put on hold, while her husband, who had a Western name and used a foreign phone number, immediately got in.
Following the backlash, Entourage Bali posted an apology on its social media pages admitting to “errors” in their automated approval process.
“First and foremost, we are extremely sorry for the people that have been offended and hurt, and we have never meant to be disrespectful or discriminating to anyone. Entourage was created as a community for digital nomads in Bali, to help people who are new to the island connect with others and do fun activities together during their stay. Being a digital nomad is not defined by nationality. Our community includes members from many countries, including Indonesia,” they said in their statement.
“However, we have made errors in the automated approval process for our WhatsApp groups and non-running events. While we were trying to create a place where digital nomads could meet, a bias was created that some (and not all) +62 numbers / Indonesians were incorrectly rejected. Our goal has always been to build an inclusive community and contribute positively to Bali.”
They then said they will be pausing all their activities for the time being and that they will be taking “full responsibility” for the damages caused. They ended their statement with a pie chart showing that their ticketed Silent Disco Run event that was held last July 22 comprised of mostly Indonesians.
The Dutch founders have since been banned from entering Indonesia.
“The Bali Silent Disco running event organised by foreign nationals [is] suspected of violating regulations and being fraught with discrimination against local residents,” said Bali’s Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, in a statement. “I have instructed the Bali immigration team to inspect the event organiser [and] if any foreign nationals are involved, arrest them immediately.”
View this post on Instagram
(ALSO READ: Where to Run in and Around Metro Manila)
What are your thoughts on this? Share them in the comments!
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message on WhenInManila.com Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com Community at WIM Squad! We also share our stories on Viber, join us!
