TV host and comedian Vice Ganda has issued a public apology after a recent It's Showtime skit drew criticism from viewers, with some accusing him of making an insensitive joke that they believed carried colorist undertones.
The issue began during a recent "Memerimar" skit in the show's Laro Laro Pick segment featuring Johaira, a member of Baby Dolls.
As part of the skit, Vice Ganda spat water onto Johaira's face. Shortly after, the host said, "Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Bakit nagputik ka?"
The remark quickly caught the attention of viewers online, with many interpreting it as a comment about Johaira's complexion.
Videos of the segment soon circulated across social media, where netizens shared divided opinions. While some saw it as a joke consistent with the show's style of humor, others felt the comment was offensive and called for the program to be more mindful of the jokes it makes on air.
Before ending the episode of It's Showtime, Vice Ganda directly addressed the backlash, saying the show had heard the concerns raised by viewers who were hurt by some of the jokes and skits featured on the program.
"Nakarating po sa aming kaalaman na may mga madlang people po na hindi nagustuhan o na-offend sa ilan sa aming jokes o biruan dito sa Showtime, pati na rin sa mga ginagawa namin sa Memerimar na they found the jokes offensive or insensitive."
Vice Ganda emphasized that the show's intention has always been to entertain and make people happy, never to offend its audience. The comedian then acknowledged the sentiments of those who were hurt and extended an apology.
"Gusto lang namin ipaalam po sa inyo na the last thing we want is to displease you o hindi mapasaya ang aming madlang people. Kaya naman, ina-acknowledge po namin ang inyong sentimyento at humihingi po kami ng paumanhin sa inyo," he continued.
The host also assured viewers that the incident serves as a reminder for them to be more careful moving forward.
"We will try to do better. Maraming maraming salamat po," Vice Ganda ended.
Following the apology, many netizens thanked Vice Ganda for recognizing the public's concerns and taking accountability. Others, meanwhile, expressed hope that the program would continue to be more thoughtful and consistent in ensuring its comedy remains respectful while entertaining audiences.