Toni Gonzaga hints at being ‘unbothered’ amid social media criticism for endorsing Marcos-Duterte tandem and Marcoleta
TV host and actress Toni Gonzaga has hinted at being “unbothered” over social media criticisms thrown her way for hosting the proclamation rally of Bongbong Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
Gonzaga, who attended the proclamation rally with husband Paul Soriano, received mixed reactions for supporting the Marcos-Duterte tandem and senatorial aspirant SAGIP party-list representative Rodante Marcoleta. To recall, Marcoleta was one of the instrumental figures behind ABS-CBN’s shutdown in July 2020.
A number of Twitter users scored the actress for siding with the camp of Marcos Jr. due to the historical record of killings, human rights abuses and corruption during the Martial Law regime of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
To clarify, people are not trying to cancel Toni Gonzaga. They are calling her out for supporting a thief, tax evader, plunderer, and a corrupt politician despite claiming being religious kuno. Imagine the disconnect. #PulaAngKulayNgMagnanakaw #KulayRosasAngBukas
— NAOMI (05)AKA ✨? (@lincoln_sp_) February 8, 2022
Tangina kinalibutan ako. It’s as if she was introducing us all to our death.
— nikki (@macronikki) February 8, 2022
Let us highlight those last words:
70,000 detained, 34,000 tortured, and 3,240 killed during martial law. https://t.co/YSRjYfofEm
Hearing “buhay na buhay ang pagmamahal kay Apo Lakay” from Toni Gonzaga after they played the Martsa ng Bagong Lipunan sounds even more chilling if you hear the tales of those tortured during martial law. Neri Colmenares was one of them. Please, never again to the Marcoses. pic.twitter.com/h2A1GqlZNo
— Philip Jamilla (@pmjamilla) February 8, 2022
kinikilabutan ako sa pagka-panatiko ni Toni Gonzaga at ubos-lakas na pag-introduce nya sa demonic tandem sa proc rally nila kanina.....
— Mench T. (@menchongdeee) February 8, 2022
te matapos mong gumanap sa gantong role? matapos mong magpakahirap maging maid sa Spain dahil sa labor export policy na sinimulan ni Marcos? pic.twitter.com/zX8yjiC9Qd
Journalist Raissa Robles also criticized Gonzaga for supporting Marcos’ presidential bid.
Shame on Toni Gonzaga. But that's just my opinion as the author of Marcos Martial Law:Never Again, a brief history of torture and atrocity under the New Society. ? https://t.co/d8dLDkogvE
— Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) February 8, 2022
Gonzaga also came under fire for endorsing Marcoleta for senator, with some expressing their disappointment towards the actress. Many also pointed out how in July 2020, she called out the individuals responsible for rejecting ABS-CBN’s franchise.
“Sa lahat ng nasa posisyon ngayon, hindi namin makakalimutan ang ginawa nyo sa mga trabahador ng ABSCBN... Just like the positions of the people in power today, what we are going through will not last forever. Troubles come to pass, they don’t stay,” Gonzaga was quoted as saying.
In less then 2 years, Toni Gonzaga now endorses Marcoleta. ? pic.twitter.com/nvlTKOIgoF
— Boy Batuta (@ibirp6) February 8, 2022
as much as toni gonzaga's political views are opposite of mine, i will not stoop low to bash her. but this? the sisters were screaming at the top of their lungs for the renewal of ABSCBN but is okay introducing Marcoleta? nasaan ang integrity? change sides when its convenient? https://t.co/5pUUyweZfK
— sof is missing Eric (@sanghakric_kr) February 9, 2022
Watching Toni introduce Marcoleta, breaks our hearts again. It brought us back to those days when they lambasted our company ABS-CBN and our Bosses. This girl didn't care about our feelings. Palibhasa mayaman kana at dika naman nawalan ng trabaho. Konting hiya naman Toni Gonzaga. https://t.co/A4gNbG5MmX
— Nico Alay-ay ❤?? (@nikkynicsalayay) February 8, 2022
Dati wala akong pakialam kung sino ang gusto ninyong suportahan pero ang suportahan ang taong nagpasara ng ABS-CBN ay sobrang dagok na lalo na kung sa ABS-CBN ka nagtatrabaho. pic.twitter.com/0IM0N99efb
— Raymund Dizon (@raymdizon) February 8, 2022
Writer Jerry Grácio said Gonzaga should “resign out of delicadeza.” Gonzaga is one of ABS-CBN’s prominent celebrities and is known for hosting the reality show Pinoy Big Brother.
Well, hindi naman kasi benggador ang ABS-CBN. Kaya dapat ang burden ay na kay Toni. If she's endorsing politicians responsible for the shut down of the network where she works, she should resign out of delicadeza.
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) February 8, 2022
Broadcast journalist Marc Logan hit Gonzaga on Facebook, where he reposted an article on Gonzaga speaking up about the ABS-CBN layoffs.
Gonzaga hasn’t released a statement about her hosting gig at Marcos-Duterte’s proclamation rally, as of this writing. However, the actress reshared a post on her IG Stories describing her as “unbothered.”
In a July 2021 interview with vlogger Will Dasovich, Gonzaga also said that it does not affect her when social media "cancel" her.
"What’s important is that no matter how many people or how many times you are cancelled by other people, what’s important is you never cancel yourself," Gonzaga said.
In Jan 2021, Gonzaga drew flak for supporting a PBB housemate who previously supported the shutdown of her home network ABS-CBN.
"It is not painful for me to be cancelled by society because I don’t cancel myself," said Gonzaga.
“Before you check on the likes on your Instagram or on Facebook, you have to wake up in the morning and tell yourself, ‘Toni, you like you? You like yourself? You like what you are doing? Yes, I like me.’ Then the rest of their likes is just bonus. Because you woke up that day, you wake up every single day, you know you like yourself, you know you like what you are doing, you like where you are at, you like the situation you are in, and that is the most powerful state and the most powerful place to be in when you like yourself because you are not betraying who you are," added Gonzaga.
A number of netizens, meanwhile, expressed their support for Gonzaga who did a “good job.”
ONCE A PHILOSOPHER SAID:
— Marvin M. Cadungog (@star_marvz) February 8, 2022
"IF YOU MAKE YOUR ENEMY ANGRY, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB"
-BBM❤️?-
Salute to Toni Gonzaga ✌️?#BBMIsMyPresident2022 #BBMSARA2022 #UNiTeamBBMSARA pic.twitter.com/M0E6SE7ynr
Through her many years in the showbiz industry, the Ultimate Multimedia Star Toni Gonzaga proved that aside from acting & singing, being a host is one of the many things she does remarkably. She has a joyful spirit, a lively personality and a witty mind. #UNiTeamBBMSARA pic.twitter.com/g4jCcL88jw
— Jackie Carrington (@FhqJackie) February 8, 2022
The Unbothered Queen ?
— Marites for Leni ♀️ (@kakamfake) February 7, 2022
"Never Cancel Yourself"
.
Be Toni Gonzaga in the world full of Angelica Panganiban, Bianca Gonzales and Agot Isidro ?#BBMSARAProclamationRally2022 #BBMSARA2022 pic.twitter.com/Gyrfs7Z09N
Toni Gonzaga’s energy in hosting is very special. Glad she isn’t afraid of the cancel culture in this country.
— MR. HOLMES (@BakerStrLondon) February 8, 2022
Twitter user @pejobarahama said he “stands” with Gonzaga despite the criticisms on social media.
I stand with TONI GONZAGA.
— ?? ???? (@pejobarahama) February 8, 2022
We all have our freedom to support political candidates which we believe can make this country a better place to live. We don't need to destroy friendships and relationships just because we are supporting different candidates.
The hashtag #UnbotheredQueenToniG also became a trending topic on Twitter with over 6,000 tweets, as of this writing.
Prior to the proclamation rally, Marcos Jr. was interviewed by Gonzaga in a controversial episode of her web series Toni Talks in September 2020. The presidential aspirant was also a sponsor at Gonzaga and Soriano’s wedding in 2015.
