I think the lesson here is don’t play devil’s advocate if you are not open to ideas and other people’s concerns on a sensitive topic.
A more effective approach shouldn’t be dismissive and you determining who shouldn’t be offended because you want to be creative. I don’t have the right to tell someone to stop being sensitive on something. I don’t know that person’s experience and how that topic maybe triggering.
You may have the privilege of not knowing what it is like to be discriminated on your features or culture from a dominated group. You may want to express that in your writing because you feel entitled to do so… Just know context matter and others may vocalize their concerns on your creative freedom that may be offensive.