Tugue Zombie, one of the hosts of E.A.T., opened up about the recent issue concerning a joke made by his co-host, Jose Manalo, during a segment on the show.
On August 5, 2023, Zombie shared that he was unaware that the joke about his skin color had become a significant concern for some netizens, prompting them to call the attention of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to summon the show’s producers.
Despite the controversy surrounding the comment, motivational speaker Rendon Labador also weighed in, giving the MTRCB an ultimatum until Monday to summon Jose.
However, Zombie shared that he did not feel or hear anything offensive about the joke, emphasizing that he and Jose were just having good vibes and making people happy, which was their ultimate goal.
“Sa pagkarinig ko, I did not feel or hear anything bad or that affects me, parang good vibes lang kaming dalawa,” said Zombie. “We’re just laughing, good vibes, we just making everybody happy… That’s our goal.”
According to Zombie, there was nothing wrong with the comment made by Jose, and he found it harmless and lighthearted. He expressed confusion over the netizens’ sensitivity towards the joke and urged them not to meddle in matters that did not concern them.
“Walang mali diyan, okay? If I come out and tell you that what he say hurts me, then okay, pero walang mali diyan. It did not hurt me, no…. Walang mali diyan,” he added.
In defense of Jose Manalo, Zombie called for respect towards the veteran comedian, who has been making people happy for decades and has a deep understanding of what is right and wrong. He implored netizens not to be overly sensitive about the jokes presented on the show’s segment, “Sugod Bahay Kapatid,” and emphasized that he was content with his Sugod Bahay team, whom he considered his second family.
“Wag kayong maging pakialamera sa mga bagay na hindi para sayo. Mind your business please, always mind your business,” he stated.
As the issue continues to gain traction on social media, there is no news yet regarding the MTRCB’s action or response to the matter.
