Old Clip of Ronny Chieng Praising US Free Speech Goes Viral After Renouncing Malaysian Citizenship

A resurfaced video of Ronny Chieng explaining why he loves America goes viral after he officially becomes a US citizen and renounces his Malaysian citizenship.

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Malaysian-born comedian and actor Ronny Chieng has been making headlines following the announcement that he has officially become a citizen of the United States, renouncing his Malaysian nationality in the process.

The news broke when Bill Murray surprised Chieng with an on-air congratulation during The Daily Show, where Ronny currently serves as a host. Although the United States permits dual citizenship, Malaysia does not — a fact that forced Ronny to choose between the two.

Since then, a previously recorded video from one of Ronny’s stand-up specials has resurfaced and gone viral, as fans revisit his open admiration for American values — particularly freedom of speech.

“I love being in America because this is the country that puts show business above everything,” Ronny says in the clip.

The viral moment came from his Netflix special, Love to Hate It, released in December last year. In it, he delivers a bold, comedic comparison between how free speech is treated in the US versus Malaysia.

In his routine, Ronny cheekily raised his middle finger and declared:

“I do this in America, f*** the US President, f*** the US tax, and money still come into my pocket.”

He quickly followed it up with a comparison:

“I do this in Malaysia, same words, same clothing, same haircut, facing the same direction — it means jail.”

Ronny described the difference as “arbitrage” — the value gap of the same “product” depending on location — adding:

“Obviously, I’m going to do it here. Why the f*** would I do this anywhere else? It’s the best.”

The crowd in the Netflix special erupted in laughter, but the deeper context wasn’t lost on viewers back home.

While some Malaysian netizens expressed disappointment at his renouncement of Malaysian citizenship, many praised his ability to present complex social commentary with wit and clarity, acknowledging that his observations reflect real challenges faced by entertainers and public figures in more restrictive environments.Ronny Chieng, who was born in Johor Bahru, has spent most of his career in Australia and the US, rising to international fame through his roles in The Daily Show, Crazy Rich Asians, and multiple Netflix specials.

Source : Youtube