Uncle Roger: Real Name, Wife, Net Worth, Controversies Explained

Anyone who’s spent more than a few minutes on YouTube cooking videos has probably heard a loud “haiya!” followed by a withering critique of a poorly made fried rice. That voice belongs to Uncle Roger, a character played by Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng, and what started as a single reaction video to a BBC Food host turned into a global comedy brand with millions of fans – and a few controversies along the way.

Real name: Nigel Ng ·
Nationality: Malaysian ·
YouTube subscribers: 8.5 million+ ·
Character debut: 2020 ·
Net worth (estimated): $4 million ·
Known for: Uncle Roger character

Nine key specs, one clear picture: Nigel Ng’s public profile is well-documented, though some details remain estimates.

Is Uncle Roger a Malaysian?

Nigel Ng’s nationality and background

• Nigel Ng is Malaysian, born in Kuala Lumpur on 15 March 1991 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• He moved to the United States for college and graduated from Northwestern University in 2014 with an engineering degree and a philosophy minor (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• He lived in Malaysia for 20 years before moving to the US (YouTube (video platform)).

How Uncle Roger character reflects Malaysian Chinese culture

• Uncle Roger is a fictional alter ego that exaggerates a stereotypical middle-aged Chinese uncle with an accent (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Ng, who is ethnically Chinese, channels the food values and humor he grew up with in Malaysia.

The implication: Uncle Roger is not a real person, but a character deeply rooted in Ng’s own Malaysian Chinese upbringing.

Why did Uncle Roger divorce his wife?

Uncle Roger’s ex-wife Evelyn Mok

• Evelyn Mok is a comedian and was married to Nigel Ng. The marriage ended in divorce, which Ng confirmed in a Facebook video titled “Nigel finally talks about his failed marriage” (Facebook (social media)).
• Wikipedia lists Ng as divorced and remarried (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

Timeline of marriage and separation

• Ng married Evelyn Mok around 2020. The divorce was made public by 2023.
• No official statement from either party details the cause of the split.

Public statements about the divorce

• Ng’s Facebook post acknowledged a “failed marriage” but did not elaborate on reasons.
• Evelyn Mok has not publicly discussed the divorce in detail.

The catch: While the divorce is confirmed, the reasons remain private, and no primary-source legal documents have been released.

Who is Sabrina Ahmed? Everything to know about Uncle Roger’s new wife

Sabrina Ahmed’s background and career

• Sabrina Ahmed is a lawyer of Bengali descent (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• She is not Indian; her ethnic background is Bangladeshi.

How they met

• Details of how Ng and Ahmed met have not been publicly disclosed.

Wedding and public appearances

• Ng married Sabrina Ahmed on 19 July 2025 in Sintra, Portugal, in a three-day celebration combining Chinese and Bengali traditions (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Ahmed has appeared on Ng’s social media, but she maintains a low public profile.

Why this matters: The marriage marks a new chapter for Ng after his divorce, and the multicultural wedding reflects his blended identity.

Why was Uncle Roger banned in China?

The MSG joke controversy

• Ng made a joke about MSG and Chinese food that led to his Chinese social media accounts being suspended (TikTok (social media)).
• In an Instagram reel, Ng stated that Uncle Roger “may be banned in China” (Instagram (social media)).
• He also described a bit that got Uncle Roger “cancelled from China” on Facebook (Facebook (social media)).

China’s response and censorship

• No official statement from Chinese authorities has been made regarding Ng’s ban.
• The suspension appears to be platform-level, not a government-wide censorship.

Impact on Uncle Roger’s career

• The ban limited his reach on Chinese platforms but did not significantly affect his global popularity.
• Ng continues to produce content and tour worldwide.

The trade-off: The MSG joke gave Ng a viral moment but cost him access to one of the world’s largest online audiences.

Why does Uncle Roger dislike Jamie Oliver?

The BBC Food reaction video

• Uncle Roger’s breakout video in 2020 featured him reacting to a BBC Food segment where Jamie Oliver made egg fried rice (YouTube (video platform)).
• Ng criticized Oliver’s technique, including the use of a colander to rinse rice and the addition of chili jam.

Cultural authenticity debate

• Uncle Roger’s persona is built on defending traditional Asian cooking methods.
• The feud is largely one-sided; Jamie Oliver has not publicly responded.

What this means: The Jamie Oliver reaction is a cornerstone of the Uncle Roger brand, highlighting the character’s mission to mock Western culinary ignorance.

Nigel Ng’s Uncle Roger character has brought him fame and scrutiny. For a comedian whose brand relies on cultural authenticity, the China ban and personal changes present both risks and opportunities. The challenge for Ng will be maintaining the character’s appeal while navigating real-world consequences – and for his audience, the question is whether the persona can evolve alongside the man.