Miss World PH defends Krishnah Gravidez after viral 'Guess the Bill' challenge
Miss World Philippines (MWP) showed their support for their reigning queen Krishnah Gravidez after she was recently involved in the viral "Guess the Bill" challenge that has since earned criticism from the public.
In a statement on its social media pages, the organization stated that they had gotten wind of the now-deleted video showing Kim Atienza’s daughter Emmanuelle Atienza, Gravidez, and several of their other friends apparently paying P133,000 for a Japanese dinner.
"First and foremost, we would like to affirm that Krishnah is a person of integrity, compassion, and dedication to her advocacy of 'Color the World with Kindness,'" MWP highlighted.
"Throughout her journey, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to charitable causes and the well-being of others. Her genuine heart for service is evident in the countless initiatives she has supported, and she continues to be an inspiring role model for many Filipinos," they added.
They stressed that the video "does not reflect Krishnah's true character or the values that she upholds," and that it was only a lighthearted moment among friends meant to be shared in private."
"Unfortunately, it was uploaded without her consent, leading to misunderstandings about her intentions. Despite this, Krishnah has taken full responsibility for the situation and has expressed her deep regret for any misconceptions that may have arisen," they stated.
According to the organization, the incident serves as a reminder to always be cautious and mindful of one's actions especially on social media as people can easily misinterpret the content if it has no proper context.
"Krishnah remains committed to learning from this experience and moving forward with greater awareness and responsibility. As an organization, we stand by Krishnah Marie Gravidez and her continued efforts to represent the country with grace, dignity, and purpose," MWP underscored.
They implored the public for their understanding and trust that Gravidez will continue to "exemplify the values of Miss World Philippines in all her endeavors."
After garnering much flak from social media users, who criticized them for "flaunting their wealth," Atienza has since clarified that the viral challenge they did was merely a joke and that they didn't pay for that "outrageously high number."
She went on to express her opinion about a post from a local media outlet that said she should check her privilege.
"First of all, I've been so honest about the privileges I've been given and the privilege that I have in my life," she said, adding that she never denies the privileges she has and is very open about the fact that she is a "nepo baby."
Gravidez also spoke up regarding the issue and echoed Atienza's earlier statement that she didn't pay for anything and that she couldn't pay for a dinner bill like that.
"I don't even celebrate my own birthday to save money. Yes, laki po ako sa hirap and hindi din ako mayaman as of the moment. Hindi ko po yun ikinaila ever," she said.
The beauty queen added that she'll be more careful with involving herself in such videos and apologized to her fans.
"I should have been more sensitive of what's happening around us," she said. "I feel bad that this issue blew up and I might have disappointed some of you. I'm really sorry po."