- Erin Ocampo had made an insensitive joke about adopted kids.
- The Commission on Human Rights called out It’s Showtime and asked them to stop promoting discrimination.
- It’s Showtime hosts also publicly apologized a day after.
During the Purokatatawanan segment of It’s Showtime, Erin Ocampo had made an insensitive joke about adopted kids on June 7, Thursday. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) called out the management and the producers of the said show.
They also released a statement regarding the issue.
In the said statement, The CHR also asked It’s Showtime to be more responsible on providing entertainment.
“We call on ‘It’s Showtime’ to be more responsible in providing entertainment. Being funny at the expense of people under less favorable circumstances is inhumane and cruel.”
The CHR also added that being an adopted child is not a laughing matter.
“Being an adopted child or ‘ampon’ is not a matter of ridicule. A person’s birth circumstance does not diminish his/her dignity, nor does it define his/her personhood.”
Then, the CHR continued to advise everyone to refrain from promoting discrimination.
“The Commission advises everyone, especially the entertainment sector, to refrain from promoting discrimination against, or perpetuating the stigmatization of, persons, especially those brought about under special circumstances of less privilege.”
In the said episode, Erin had asked not to make the joke personal, it was still insensitive. She asked Jimboy Martin to take the hit of her joke. Then, she asked:
“Jimboy, paano gumawa ng pangit na anak?”
Jimboy also answered, “Bakit hindi mo tanungin sa nanay mo?”
However, that wasn’t the answer Erin was looking for. She laughed and said:
“Mali! Itanong mo sa totoo mong magulang kasi ampon ka!”
It’s Showtime hosts also publicly apologized in June 8, Friday.
At the 27:24 mark of the It’s Showtime live feed attached below, Amy Perez led the public apology. She apologized in behalf of the whole show.
“Madlang pipol! Kahapon po sa aming pananghalian na ‘Purokatatawanan’ ay nagbitaw po ang aming kasamang si Erin Ocampo ng hindi magandang biro tungkol po sa mga ampon na nakasakit po sa damdamin ng publiko. Ang buong programa po ay humihingi po ng inyong paumanhin at hindi po namin intensyon na mawalan ng respeto at gawing katawa-tawa ang kahit na sinong tao. So, magtiwala po kayo na mas lalo po kaming magiging ma-ingat, responsable at sensitibo sa amin pong mga salita para sa kasiyahan po ng lahat. Muli, ang aming pong paumanhin sa lahat at mahal po namin kayo madlang pipol. Maraming salamat!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQvaSPUb5cE
