Kazakhstanis have launched a series of memes following actress Dariga Badikova's statement, reports Tengri Life.
How It All Started
Kazakhstani actress Dariga Badikova found herself in the spotlight after her emotional remark that many Kazakhstanis chose to watch the foreign cartoon "Moana-2" instead of her new film "Taptym-au seni - 2". The actress expressed her disappointment, noting that viewers are not supporting local cinema, which she believes is crucial for the development of national filmmaking and successful competition on the international stage.
"Let's not go to 'Moana' and disgrace ourselves. Sending money to another country and enriching their box office. I say this openly. On November 27, there were Kazakhs who went to see 'Moana'. I'm not angry. I just don't understand what kind of Kazakhs these are. It’s not a big deal if the money goes abroad. If someone got rich – let them keep getting rich," Badikova stated, urging viewers to choose domestic films.
View this post on InstagramPost by Important People’s News (@novosti.karagandy.kz)
Reactions from Kazakhstanis
However, the actress's words sparked mixed reactions. Many social media users criticized her stance, arguing that everyone has the right to choose what to watch.
"She herself is not resting in Borovoe, but prefers to go abroad," "Instead of complaining about viewers who choose quality cartoons, perhaps ask yourself: why is Kazakh cinema stuck at the level of cheap comedies about weddings, brides, and villages?", "Make decent films – we will watch them. It's clear from the advertising stage that it’s all the same," "First, create a product on par with world cinema, then ask for support," "The beginning of a star disease," "It's none of your business what we spend our money on," users commented.
Later, Dariga Badikova addressed Kazakhstanis again and "allowed" them to watch other films in theaters.
"Go ahead. Watch whatever movie you want. I don’t think children shouldn’t go to cartoons. Did I say children shouldn't go?" she said in her statement.
"Let's Not Disgrace Ourselves"
The reaction of Kazakhstanis to this situation resulted in a series of memes. Users humorously reflected the actress's controversial statements and began recording satirical videos. For example, in one popular video, sellers supposedly persuade customers to buy domestic products, using arguments similar to Badikova's remarks.
The memes also reached well-known personalities. Popular Kazakhstani showman and producer Nurlan Koyanbayev joined the wave of jokes, deciding to promote his new film, which is set to release on the same dates as the new Disney project.
"Let's not go to 'The Lion King' and disgrace ourselves!" he captioned the post.
Astana stand-up comedian Nurlan Rahymbayev also made a joke about the situation.
Photo: treads.net/@nurlan.rahymbayev
Some users took a creative approach to the issue: they posted video reports of their visit to Dariga's film, adding that their "conscience is clear before Badikova."
There were also those who ironically asked Dariga for permission to watch "Moana."
The phrase "let's not disgrace ourselves" spread widely, inspiring other memes. Creators joked that instead of buying foreign currency, it’s better to support the domestic tenge.
View this post on InstagramPost by ShalMustBGone (@shalmustbgone)
One user even "recreated" a dialogue between Moana and Dariga.
Earlier, a lookalike of the popular Kazakhstani actress Dariga Badikova was discovered online. A random video featuring a fruit seller in Thailand went viral, gathering several hundred thousand views.