KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 — An edited word from Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar acceptance speech from a South Korean news broadcast has sparked backlash from viewers.

"Ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime,” was part of the 60-year-old Ipoh-born actress’ acceptance speech at the 95th Academy Awards on Monday.

South Korean viewers however noticed the word ‘ladies’ was edited out from an SBS news broadcast, even removing it from the subtitles.

Outraged, online commenters flooded SBS’ online bulletin board with accusations of alleged censorship and misogyny alongside demands for a formal apology from executives.

According to Yonhap, SBS deleted the original video and reuploaded the unedited speech on its website following online criticism.

SBS told NoCutNews that they omitted the word ‘ladies’ as they thought ‘it does not necessarily apply only to women’.

The broadcaster also claimed that it had no intention of distorting the meaning of Yeoh’s speech.

SBS has not come out with an official statement on the issue.

The anger comes in the midst of a rise of anti-feminism in South Korea under conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol’s government.

Yoon has been vocal about taking down the gender equality ministry and has blamed South Korea’s low birthrate on feminism.

Yeoh, an outspoken advocate of women’s rights, became the first Asian to win an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

The Academy Award-winning actress told TIME that she had turned down stereotyped Asian female roles for years until she found the role of Evelyn Wang, an ageing laundromat owner who has to save the multiverse.

"When you get an opportunity like this, you have to pour your heart and soul into it, because you don’t know when the next chance is,” Yeoh said.