SINGAPORE: When you go to a hawker centre or a food court, you expect piping hot kopi, the comforting clang of cutlery, and the occasional tissue packet claiming seats, but you’d never expect a woman in boots wearing crop tops and a short mini skirt standing above you like she’s on a live concert stage.
However, that’s exactly what happened when 20-year-old Kiwi singer Kira Peace pranced atop food court tables mid-song (as described in a video), in a bold bid to bring art to where no artist had sung before: Your HDB lunch spot!
Clips of her performance — complete with stage struts across laminated wood while diners try to enjoy their meal — went viral after Instagram page SG Daily (@thesgdaily) shared the footage with the caption: “Woman turns food court into stage as she sings and walks on tables.” Nearly 130,000 views and close to 800 likes later, Singaporeans had one unified reaction: “Siow Ang Mo!”
Who is Kira Peace?
In the viral video, Kira Peace can be seen walking along the tops of the food court. Although her performance was energetic and confident, most Singaporeans found it controversial.
While the voiceover in the background of the video weirdly advertised UK-based Jet2Holidays, the real spectacle was unfolding with each step of her shoes on surfaces normally reserved for food.
The Kiwi-born, Singapore-based performer has been gaining traction online since her solo concert “Kira Rising” in 2022 drew over 2,000 fans and amassed 7.6 million views on TikTok. Her earlier hit “Sweet Sweet Lovin” (2022) even aired on MTV Asia, racking up close to 1 million views on YouTube. “Pretty Boy” (2022) also experienced rapid growth in plays and views.
As a pre-teen, she won the prestigious IMTA Singing Contest in Los Angeles (2018). She represents a new wave of entertainment that embraces the relatable reality of chasing your dream in the 21st century.
However, fame, as they say, walks a fine line—and sometimes even walks on tables.
Singaporeans say, “No freaking manners, shoes never on tables!”
The online feedback was fast, furious, and filled with flavour. Some were bemused:
- “Siow Ang Mo!”
- There are many crazy people in Singapore nowadays.
- “It is ok to be crazy if you are hot.”
Others were less forgiving:
- “That’s so inappropriate!”
- “Disgusting and shameless!”
- “So unhygienic! I will avoid this food court.”
And the Singaporean signature disapproval was:
- “No freaking manners, shoes never on tables!”
- “May the cringe be with you.”
- “Girl thinking she’s Dua Lipa or something.”
One Singaporean said it even more clearly: “Don’t get me wrong, I support people trying to make a living, but there’s a time and place for everything — this ain’t it.”
“Don’t put shoes on tables…”
Despite the backlash, Kira seems unfazed. This isn’t her first rodeo, anyway. She’s previously even faced glow stick projectiles and far worse online vitriol.
But as a self-described “third culture kid” with a “deep love and passion for music,” her goal is to transcend borders — even if it means dancing dangerously close to people’s food.
Still, this incident may prompt food courts to reconsider their floor plans. As one commenter quipped: “After this, signs will say: ‘Don’t put shoes on tables.’”
“Those are not tables, but not stages either…”
Some commenters offered a more nuanced take on the situation. Instead of jumping on the outrage bandwagon, they suggested the surfaces might not actually be dining tables at all.
One pointed out: “Not really a table leh. I think they’re filming something; she is on a stage, not a table.”
Another added, “Those are not tables, but not stages either, though. They are basically barriers to segmenting different seating areas.”
It seems not everyone was ready to declare a hygiene emergency. Some were trying to make sense of what they were seeing, or what they were not seeing.
So then, was it really just performance art or, in fact, another “influencer” public nuisance, as one commenter complained: “They’ll do anything for attention these days.”
Whatever your stance, one thing is certain: Kira Peace has once again found her way into Singapore’s spotlight—just not in everyone’s hearts (or hygiene standards). At least, not this time around.
However, in a city that’s always buzzing with viral moments and second takes and second chances, who knows, things may change for Kira in the near future.
Read more viral stories over here: ‘It’s so tiring to be friends with Singaporeans’ — French woman says after everything she does for “SG people” is seen as ‘not good enough’
