Misogyny and a Missed Opportunity

So, let’s talk about Chia Boon Teck.

Over the past week, both Singapore’s mainstream media and social media has been buzzing with headlines about the comments made by the former Vice-President of the Law Society of Singapore regarding a rape case. His opinions, which many perceived as victim-blaming, ignited widespread outrage and debate.

Personally, I received several messages about this incident because just a week earlier, Chia had posted on LinkedIn his response to my Straits Times commentary about the challenges younger women face when networking with senior male leaders.

I won’t go into the details here, but let’s just say he already displayed borderline misogynistic views, insinuating that women should be lucky to score a free lunch from men.

I stood my ground, explained my position, and the exchange ended there because I didn’t know him, and still don’t. (I didn’t capture any screenshots — I’m not that petty!)

Now, I’m not in the legal industry and I bear no grudges from our brief encounter, but from a communications perspective, the incident caught my interest.

Chia Boon Teck’s response to this whole debacle is a textbook example of what NOT to do when the heat is on.

What happened?

Here’s a quick recap for those who might not be following the saga:

🔶 Who: On March 22, 2025, Chia Boon Teck, Vice-President of the Law Society of Singapore and co-managing director of law firm Chia Wong Chambers, faced public backlash after being called out by a legal industry peer for posting comments on LinkedIn questioning the actions of a rape survivor. 

🔶 What: Chia’s comments were directed at the victim of convicted rapist Lev Panfilov, a TikToker and actor. He called the victim “not exactly a babe in the woods” and made inappropriate remarks about her ordeal.

🔶 Why: Chia’s comments were widely condemned as misogynistic, with many accusing him of undermining the credibility of sexual assault victims. Even Law Minister K Shanmugam voiced his disapproval, calling for more mindfulness in public statements on sexual assault cases, especially from those representing the legal profession. Shanmugam also listed out the changes that Singapore has made to better protect victims of sexual harassment.

🔶 So what: Chia eventually resigned from the Law Society, and he has since deleted the post — and his entire Linkedin account. The controversy sparked much-needed discussions about accountability, empathy, and sensitivity in addressing cases of sexual violence, especially from the legal field.

As someone who’s never shy to speak my mind — even when it ruffles a few feathers — I get it. Sometimes, things just go sideways. Haters gonna hate. 

Here’s the thing though: how leaders handle backlash is where you really get to see their true character, and this is where it gets interesting.

Crisis comms for contrarians

For those of you still building your personal brands online and hoping to avoid these pitfalls, here are some key learnings I’ve distilled from the Chia Boon Teck saga:

1. Don’t Be a misogynist, duh.

It’s 2025, people. Can we please just not hold narrow-minded, outdated views? You can’t sit in a leadership seat and be making comments that perpetuate harmful stereotypes. That kind of thinking doesn't belong anywhere, not even whispered in gentlemen’s cigar rooms, let alone on a public platform where your words have power.

🔶 Takeaway: Unsure where to toe the line? Run your controversial opinions by argumentative friends first to strengthen your points or prepare for rebuttals. As a senior lawyer, he should’ve known this.

2. Silence is not golden.

I understand the instinct to dig a hole and disappear into it when you’ve messed up. But when you’re in the public eye and frequently featured in the media, that’s basically impossible. Chia deleted his LinkedIn and plunged into the digital abyss, making the story drag on even longer. In the vacuum of information, curious journalists and netizens will dig into your digital footprint and carry out unnecessary character assassinations based on surface assumptions.

(For the record, I disagree with the personal attacks. Being a supercar club president doesn’t automatically make you an entitled, misogynist. Let’s not have simplistic, have-vs-have-not narratives cloud the debate, which is about his public statements as an office holder representing the legal profession, and not his personal hobbies and history.)

🔶 Takeaway: Silence leaves a vacuum for others to fill. If you don’t step in and steer the ship, the narrative will spiral out of control — fast.

3. Accountability is key.

Don’t dodge accountability, leverage it. Own your mistake.

Chia didn’t apologise. That’s a missed opportunity. Even if you stand by your views (however outdated) and find it disingenuous to apologise, at least acknowledge the harm your words may have caused and accept it as an opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth. Apologising for the impact, even if not for the intention, is a step towards rebuilding trust.

🔶 Takeaway: Accountability is a powerful tool. Own the consequences of your actions, even if you don't fully agree with the outcome.

4. Don’t wait to be pushed to do the right thing.

Chia was asked to step down from his position in the Law Society. But he should have volunteered. News of his resignation came via the Law Society's statement, after checks by the media, and not from Chia himself. If you’re going to heed the tough calls, make them yourself.

🔶 Takeaway: Leadership means stepping up, not waiting for someone else to do it for you. Show that you know what’s right.

5. Build a tribe that stands by you.

Leaders need support. When things go south, your tribe should be ready to vouch for you. Can your colleagues, friends, or mentors defend your overall character and consistent professionalism, even when you’re public enemy #1?

You know how men like to joke about having “bros” who they can call on to help them bury a body at 3am? How many relationships like that do you have? If not, it’s time to start building them.

🔶 Takeaway: Create a strong, authentic support network before the crisis hits. Trust isn’t something you can demand in the moment; it’s earned over time with consistent actions and loyalty.

💡 The Big Takeaway

Ultimately, leaders are remembered for how they handle the tough stuff, not just the easy wins.

Chia Boon Teck’s handling of this crisis is a reminder to all leaders that in tough times, your true character shines through. Don’t just respond in the moment. Respond with integrity.

Even if you slip up — hey, we all do — the key is to own your mistakes, apologise if necessary, and commit to doing better next time.

After all, with today’s short media cycle, the internet will find someone else to roast in no time, like I will be probably be doing in the next edition of my newsletter. 😆

Stay tuned!

PS: Just to prove I harbour no ill will in writing this, Mr Chia, I’ll be happy to help you with your post-crisis personal branding strategy. Lunch is on me. 😉