Zea
Aly Alindayu, a contestant from the online dating show ‘Pusuan or Laruan’, has broken her silence weeks after facing intense backlash for her comment about speaking English fluently.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Alindayu described the online hate she received as the “worst experience of her life”, saying it caused her severe mental and emotional distress.
Alindayu, 28, shared that she never expected the level of backlash she would receive after a clip from the dating show resurfaced online.
“I didn’t do anything wrong and yet I got hate DMs, was made into memes, a sound bite, received death threats, and more,” she wrote.
She further explained how overwhelming the situation became, with thousands of netizens attacking her character.
“The hate wasn’t even from a few hundred, it was from tens of thousands of people. People who I don’t even know made assumptions and defined my entire character.”
The controversy started when a clip from the dating show, originally uploaded in 2024, resurfaced online. In the video, Alindayu described herself as an “Englishera”, saying: “I’m an Englishera, halata. I can come off as strong to a lot of people that I try dating — they find me strong. And then, as in nosebleed. Like, I get it a lot, it doesn’t offend me.”
Her remarks sparked mixed reactions, with some netizens interpreting them as elitist or condescending.
In her Instagram post, Alindayu clarified that there was nothing wrong with her statement, as she was simply sharing her experience and preferences.
“Maybe I could have used different words, but I was only echoing what people have said to me,” she explained.
She also addressed criticisms about her English accent, saying: “I may not have the typical American accent that you’re expecting, but English is my first language. I spoke Taglish because it’s a Filipino show and I was adjusting. I hope you can see that I was trying.”
Alindayu also reassured the public that she and her match on the show remain on good terms.
“He was not offended by the things I said. What I said to him and what you guys saw was a preference, not a deal breaker, and I was not looking down on him or anyone.”
Despite the backlash, Alindayu expressed gratitude for the support she has received from friends, celebrities, and content creators who defended her.
She also acknowledged her critics, saying: “To those who have sent me hate, I hear you. We all have our own preferences. I forgive you and wish you peace.”
Looking forward, Alindayu hopes to turn her experience into advocacy, expressing interest in raising awareness against bullying.
“If you guys know where I can start, I am all ears. Maybe a podcast! I want to help other people because I do not wish this at all,” she wrote.
While Alindayu continues to process the effects of the backlash, her message serves as a reminder about responsible social media behavior and the importance of understanding context before making judgments online.
