Silicon Valley billionaire blasted for 'nobody cares' remark about Uyghur plight

Billionaire Silicon Valley investor Chamath Palihapitiya has been condemned for an on-air remark in which he said that "nobody cares" about China's persecution and genocide against its Muslim Uyghur minority.

Palihapitiya, a part-owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and one of Facebook’s youngest-ever senior executives, was asked by the hosts of the All-In technology podcast whether US President Joe Biden's actions on the Uyghur issue has helped him politically. 

"Nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs, okay," Palihapitiya said.

"You bring it up because you care and I think it’s nice that you care. The rest of us don’t care. I’m just telling you a very hard, ugly truth."

“Nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs, okay? … I’m telling you a very hard ugly truth… Of all the things I care about, yes it is below my line.”
—Chamath Palihapitiya (billionaire CEO of Social Capital & part owner of Golden State Warriors)pic.twitter.com/gPGLpg4vgO

— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) January 17, 2022

Podcast co-host Jason Calacanis interrupted Palihapitiya, saying: “What? What do you mean nobody cares?" 

Palihapitiya responded: “Of all the things I care about, yes, it is below my line.”

Human rights groups say at least one million Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim residents of China have been incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang province since 2014.

They have accused the Chinese government of engaging in genocide.

Beijing has come under mounting pressure over its policies, with US President Joe Biden last month signing a law that virtually banned all imports from the region over concerns that forced labour was being used to manufacture them.

Palihapitiya's comments drew ire from social media users, including basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom, an outspoken critic of China’s treatment of the Uyghur population.

When @NBA says we stand for justice, don’t forget there are those who sell their soul for money & business like @chamath the owner of @warriors,
who says “Nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs”

When genocides happen, it is people
like this that let it happen

Shame! pic.twitter.com/27j2GxGhCU

— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) January 17, 2022

Palihapitiya, who was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Canada as a refugee as a child, posted a statement on his Twitter account, admitting that his comments "lacked empathy".

The Golden State Warriors distanced themselves from Palihapitiya’s comments, saying that he "doesn’t speak on behalf of their franchise" and that his views "certainly don’t reflect our organisation".