Netizens have labeled that host of ‘Eat Bulaga!’ Joey de Leon after making a joke about ABS-CBN’s failure to secure a franchise renewal.
During a March 10 episode of the noontime show, a gay contestant talked about how his job was saved through a collective effort.
The other hosts cheered him on, except for De Leon, who decided to take a jab at ABS-CBN.
“Buti pa kayo may prangkisa…” he said as everyone laughed.
Hambog na rapist talaga yan si Joey De Leon. Kita mo sa face ni Maja yun pagka inis. pic.twitter.com/ikLh27j6nX
— AltGMA🌈 (@KafosoMo) March 9, 2023
Maja Salvador was visibly disturbed by the joke, while Jose Manalo tried to segue after deeming it insensitive.
Critics weren’t too happy with De Leon.
Yung reaction talaga ni Maja 😐 pic.twitter.com/U2o56O6fXX
— Kapamilya Studios (@kpmlystudios) March 9, 2023
Once a Kapamilya will always be a Kapamilya.
hay Joey De Leon, tumatandang paurong https://t.co/xeVQwYkqjB
— MAJ (@majinglez) March 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/itstheemillej/status/1633795491124375554?s=20
Some brought up De Leon’s rape case of a then 14-year-old up-and-coming actress Pepsi Paloma.
Tangina mo Joey De Leon. Dalawin ka sana ni Pepsi Paloma at isama ka. Pwe!
— Bortang Chaka Doll (@slpeidannawi) March 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/kbdjpstan/status/1633770566392872963?s=20
ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, was shut down on May 5, 2020, following the expiration of its franchise. However, ABS-CBN and its supporters argued that the non-renewal of its franchise was politically motivated.
Moreover, De Leon has a history of disrespecting others.
In 2019, De Leon was criticized for making a lewd joke about co-host Pia Guanio’s legs. He said having Guanio around was fun because her thigh was always visible. He expressed, “Masaya pala kasama si Pia eh,” he said. “May nakikita kaming hita eh. Pag si Vic puro pantalon eh.”
Back in 2017, the host reportedly mocked the late Franco Hernandez, a former member of an all-male dance group ‘Hashtag’ on a noontime show, ‘It’s Showtime’. Hernandez died in a drowning incident in Davao Occidental.
In an Instagram post, De Leon shared a photo of himself chilling in shallow water. The caption joked that only an “idiot” would drown swimming in the “DEAD SEA.”