TVJ

[[File:Tito, Vic and Joey.jpg|thumb|165px|right|The Unholy Trinity. From left to right: Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon.]]
{{film}}
'''TVJ''' is the collective name for a comedy troupe made up of [[Philippines|Filipino]] veteran comedians '''T'''ito Sotto, Tito's younger brother '''V'''ic Sotto, and '''J'''oey de Leon. The trio gained popularity in their native Philippines when they served as the original hosts of ''{{wpl|Eat Bulaga||'',}} a variety game show programme which first aired on July 30, 1979, on {{wpl|Radio Philippines Network||,}} having previously starred in a number of sketch comedy shows and musical programmes since 1972<ref>[https://www.pep.ph/news/20047/tito-vic--joey-recall-their-road-to-success Tito, Vic & Joey recall their road to success]. 26 November 2008. Philippine Entertainment Portal.</ref> as well as pursuing a career in [[music]] with the Sotto brothers forming the disco group {{wpl|VST & Company}} in the late 70s.

They, along with their roster of co-hosts, resigned from TAPE, Inc. to form their own production company in 2023, where they started a variety show under the placeholder title ''{{wpl|E.A.T. (TV program)|E.A.T.}}'' after a widely-publicised split with TAPE, Inc. In December 2023, the courts sided with TVJ over ownership of the ''Eat Bulaga'' brand, paving the way for them to revert to the old ''Bulaga'' moniker.<ref>[https://www.rappler.com/business/tape-stops-using-eat-bulaga-tito-vic-joey-starts-using-for-noon-show/ TAPE stops using Eat Bulaga! as Tito, Vic, Joey start using it for noon show]</ref>

==What's the fuss about them?==
Well, while they have been household name in Philippine entertainment for almost half a century, all isn't sunshine and roses for them, and given the seedy underbelly of the entertainment industry not just in [[Hollywood]] but overseas, as well as how [[Crank|crackpots]] like [[Rodrigo Duterte]] tend to get away scot-free due to how they exert and take advantage of their sociopolitical influence, despite assurances by some about their relative "wholesomeness" and family-friendliness compared to their rivals,<ref>[https://entertainment.inquirer.net/189905/anak-tv-honors-child-friendly-tv-programs-and-stars Anak TV honors child-friendly TV programs and stars]</ref><ref>[https://sg.style.yahoo.com/tagged/celebrity/news/jose-and-wally---the-pressure-is-on---060748914.html Jose and Wally: The pressure is on]</ref> the TVJ troupe and their co-stars in ''Eat Bulaga'' have had their fair share of controversies both in the entertainment industry, and in the case of Tito Sotto, politics.

===Ethnic embroilment===
[[File:TVJ Arab outfits.jpeg|thumb|180px|left|Salam, Dabarkads!]]
Both ''Bulaga'' and its temporary incarnation as ''E.A.T.'' have made use of ethnic jokes stoking national stereotypes at the expense of those mocked.

During TVJ's stint at ''Bulaga'', one of the gags Tito and Joey pulled was in a 2015 [[Halloween]] episode where they dressed up as stereotypical [[Arab]] men, specifically wearing ''keffiyeh'' or ''hatta'' (headdress) and a ''thawb'' (long-sleeved garment). This obviously did not sit well with both netizens and the Filipino [[Islam|Muslim]] community who took umbrage at an act of [[cultural appropriation]], [[racism]] and [[Islamophobia]],<ref name="beeb">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-34701242 Filipino TV host offends with Arab Halloween outfit]</ref><ref name="deleon">[https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/196708-joey-de-leon-offensive-joke-controversy/ The many times Joey de Leon found himself in the middle of controversy]</ref> with ARMM governor Mujiv Hataman demanding an apology from the duo; Tito however showed defiance and claimed they had nothing to apologise for, maintaining that the garment was a gift from a sheikh friend of his and they were not mocking any culture or religion.<ref>[https://www.spot.ph/entertainment/showbiz/64452/25-most-talked-about-celebrity-moments-manila-2015 25 Most-Talked About Celebrity Moments of 2015]</ref> Similarly, prominent Filipino Muslim actor Robin Padilla dismissed the costume controversy, remarking that there were far more serious issues that should be addressed than the costumes worn by the hosts, while also fearing backlash from his fellow Muslim compatriots.<ref>[https://entertainment.inquirer.net/182581/robin-padilla-uproar-on-sotto-de-leons-arab-garb-not-worthy-of-my-time Robin Padilla: Uproar on Sotto, De Leon’s Arab garb ‘not worthy of my time’]</ref>

In a "Bawal Judgemental" (transl. "Don't Be Judgemental") segment, Joey made a snide remark towards a Filipino woman of [[China|Chinese]] descent asking if she underwent a check-up presumably for [[COVID-19]]. Some were quick to point out the [[Yellow Peril|sinophobic]] connotations of the joke Joey told in relation to the pandemic's origin.<ref name="lionheart">[https://www.lionheartv.net/2023/08/dabarkads-issues-mtrcb/ Netizens Resurface Old Concerns as MTRCB Allegedly Overlooks ‘Dabarkads’ Issues Amid Warnings to ‘It’s Showtime’]</ref>

In an August 2023 episode of ''E.A.T.'', Jose Manalo made a remark towards [[Nigeria]]n co-host Daniel "Tugue Zombie" Oke (who initially gained viral popularity in his adopted Philippines as a Tagalog-speaking vlogger) where he joked that if he won Tugue as a prize in a bingo game, it would be called a "blackout", in reference to marking all numbers on a bingo board. Audiences were quick to point out the flagrantly racist remark Manalo made towards the Nigerian; Zombie however somehow came to Manalo's defence and maintained that he wasn't offended by the blackout joke, telling critics to "mind their own business".<ref>[https://www.pep.ph/news/local/175076/zombie-jose-manalo-blackout-joke-a717-20230809 Zombie tells critics of Jose Manalo’s “blackout” joke: “Mind your own business.”]</ref>

===The suffering sirens===
While ''Eat Bulaga!'' had the distinction of promoting the cause of [[transgender]] women through the "Super Sireyna" segment since 1995,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU1pBvNgAbE Super Sireyna 1995 Eat Bulaga! 1995]</ref> it was also dubiously complimented with the so-called "Suffer Sireyna" spin-off, a self-parody of "Super Sireyna" aired as a subsegment of "Juan for All, All for Juan: Bayanihan of d' Pipol", where [[Homosexuality|gay]] and [[transgender]] residents of the barangays{{efn|A political sub-unit in the Philippines corresponding to a village.}} visited by the Juan for All crew compete in food challenges, acting skits, and question-and-answer portions, from the condescending such as being given a measly ₱1,000 or bizarre prizes like firewood or junk food from a nearby store, to the extreme and denigrating such as ingesting coffee powder or eating raw meat, all while TVJ and their co-hosts laugh at the humiliating spectacle.<ref name="outrage">[https://outragemag.com/because-suffer-sireyna-highlights-lgbtqi-suffering/ How ‘Suffer SiReyna’ highlights LGBTQI suffering]</ref>

It may have been a hit with audiences and portions of the LGBTQ+ community as a cheap laugh due to the bumbling antics of the participants involved, but many LGBTQ+ advocates condemned it as amounting to a freak show or a human zoo where impoverished gay and transgender barangay residents were openly mocked and ridiculed. John Ryan Mendoza of ''Outrage'' also pointed out how Allan K., an openly gay actor and veteran ''Bulaga'' host, apparently kept mum about the ensuing freak show despite being "in a position of power to call the failings of Suffer SiReyna".<ref name="outrage"/>

===De Leon, the callous clown===
{{hatnote|Trigger warning: References to depression and [[suicide]].}}
[[File:YT comments section with TVJ loyalists.png|thumb|200px|right|As if they aren't fully aware of de Leon's naughty sense of humour despite having been loyal to the show for decades.]]
Joey de Leon, a former disc jockey-turned-comedian and part of the TVJ trio, is known for his extensive use of wordplay and so-called "green jokes" i.e. ribald humour, oftentimes with off-colour if not outright [[Sex|risqué]] double entendres. As witty as they may seem, there were instances where he arguably took the joke too far especially given the Philippines' socially-conservative atmosphere in past decades, and in recent years, the rise of [[progressive]] social consciousness movements in the country.

In 2017 he came under fire from netizens and mental health experts as well as the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) for making a [[denialism|denialist]] claim that conditions such as depression are [[Mental illness denial|completely made up]] by those suffering from them. This stemmed from an episode of ''Eat Bulaga!'' during the "Juan for All, All for Juan" segment where a contestant whom the ''Bulaga'' co-hosts paid a visit to explained that their mother suffered from depression, which de Leon tactlessly downplayed:<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2007997506156395 Mental Illness and Addiction Recovery Support Philippines] [https://ghostarchive.org/archive/aFYX4 (Archive)]</ref>

{{quotebox|Yung depression gawa-gawa lang ‘yan… Gawa nila sa sarili nila. (Depression is just made up. They put it upon themselves.)}}

One of the co-hosts, {{wpl|Maine Mendoza}}, chided de Leon:

{{quotebox|Uy pero hindi biro yan ha. Siyempre maraming nakakaranas ng ganun lalo na sa mga kabataan kaya dapat pag may nakakaranas ng ganun, kailangan natin bigyan natin ng suporta (It’s not a joke. A lot experience it, especially the young people, which is why we should give them support).}}

De Leon persisted however, and merely chalked it up to a person's financial standing, to the applause of the live studio audience who were clearly [[Ignorance|ignorant]] over the gravity of the subject.<ref>[https://entertainment.inquirer.net/244941/joey-de-leon-dismisses-depression-as-just-made-up-maine-mendoza-says-its-not-a-joke?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1507199025 Joey de Leon dismisses depression as just ‘made up’ on ‘Eat Bulaga’; Maine Mendoza says it’s not a joke]</ref> Unsurprisingly, his remarks were met with condemnation and scorn on [[social media]] by netizens who berated de Leon for his reckless ignorance about the suffering people with depression go through. He has since apologised over the matter, claiming in an interview that his relatives schooled him on mental and psychological health.<ref>[https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/life/news/joey-de-leon-draws-flak-for-flawed-depression-comments-a00041-20171006 'Nararamdaman Talaga Ang Depression Especially Sa Mga Nanays']</ref> Perhaps in a morbidly [[irony|ironic]] twist, de Leon's own son Kempee went through a "major depression" when he was booted from ''Eat Bulaga!'' in 2022.<ref>[https://www.pep.ph/pepalerts/pep-troika/169556/keempee-de-leon-depression-eat-bulaga-a4118-20221108-lfrm Keempee de Leon, dumaan sa "major depression" nang matanggal sa Eat Bulaga]</ref>

{{cquote|Anong masama sa lubid? Dba 'pag my kinakasal, dba my sinasabit na lubid ung dalawang abay sa kinakasal. Maraming ibig sabihin ng lubid na sinasabit sa leeg hindi lang sa pagpapakamatay. Buti sana kung sinabi ni Sir Joey "Lubid nakalimutan mo, dba sinasabit din sa leeg yun pag nagpapakamatay" yun pwedeng ibash kasi mali talaga sya. (What's wrong with [mentioning] 'rope'? Isn't it when there's a wedding, they tie a rope around the couple? There's plenty of things that a rope refers to besides suicide. Had Sir Joey said, "You forgot to mention rope, don't they hang it on one's neck whenever they commit suicide?" that would've been worth criticising as it is indeed wrong.)|||A certain [[YouTube]] user burying her head in the sand.<ref name="viral">[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/File:YT_comments_section_with_TVJ_loyalists.png YouTube comments section].</ref>}}
And as if he didn't learn from his past experiences with [[mental illness denial]], he once again elicited controversy in 2023 where he jokingly suggested a noose as one of the most commonly worn objects around the neck during the "Gimme 5: Laro ng mga Henyo" segment aired on September 23, 2023, widely interpreted by audiences as a reference to suicide by hanging. During the segment, one of the contestants struggled to name anything other than "necklace", and when his turn ended, de Leon blurted out "Rope, rope, you forgot [to include that]."<ref>[https://archive.org/details/joey-de-leon-noose-joke Joey De Leon Noose Joke]</ref> This prompted widespread backlash both from audiences and mental health experts who argued that suicide is ''never'' to be trivialised or joked about. Netizens also called on MTRCB chairperson Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio, daughter of Tito Sotto, to investigate the incident, and saw a double standard over filing sanctions against a rival programme yet overlooking any indiscretions made by the show Diorella's father starred in.<ref>[https://bandera.inquirer.net/363391/joey-de-leon-pinagmumura-ng-netizens-dahil-sa-lubid-joke-sa-e-a-t-mtrcb-kinalampag-galaw-galaw-lala-sotto "Joey de Leon pinagmumura ng netizens dahil sa 'lubid' joke sa 'E.A.T.', MTRCB kinalampag: 'Galaw, galaw Lala Sotto!'"] [Joey de Leon cursed by netizens for the 'rope' joke in 'EAT', MTRCB slammed: 'Move, move Lala Sotto!']. bandera.inquirer.net. September 24, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.</ref> Fanboys of the show were busy burying their heads in the sand and alleged that the ensuing backlash was orchestrated by ''It's Showtime'' loyalists, arguing that the noose joke was taken out of context despite the obvious suicidal connotations of a rope around one's neck.<ref name="viral"/><ref>[https://bandera.inquirer.net/363778/fans-ng-tvj-kinampihan-si-joey-de-leon-sa-lubid-joke-ambabaw-na-ng-mga-tao-ngayon-konting-kibot-nag-iiyakan-agad Fans ng TVJ kinampihan si Joey de Leon sa lubid joke: ‘Ambabaw na ng mga tao ngayon, konting kibot nag-iiyakan agad’]</ref> In a formal letter addressed to the MTRCB dated September 25, creative director Jeny Ferre explained that de Leon conveyed the incident verbally in a very brief manner without further actions, elaborations, or demonstrations, but their management acknowledged those sentiments that it insinuated suicide, and they were regretful and apologetic to those offended by de Leon's utterance.<ref>Maila Ager (September 27, 2023). [https://entertainment.inquirer.net/520522/e-a-t-management-says-sorry-over-joey-de-leons-lubid-joke "EAT' management says sorry for Joey De Leon's 'lubid' joke"]. Retrieved September 28, 2023.</ref>

Despite intense criticism over the suicide joke controversy, de Leon has so far refused to make a statement condemning his recent gaffe, in stark contrast to his previous public apology over the depression remarks he made in 2017. In a [[Twitter|tweet]], he echoed the sentiments of fellow comedian and former ''Bulaga'' host {{wpl|Michael V.}} who lamented how it is hard for comedians to make people laugh as "a lot of people just criticize" and they end up getting [[cancel culture|cancelled]] for the (inappropriate) jokes they make - "They think that they’re better than us. They should take over our spots. But what do you call them? Especially that you’ve been in the industry longer than them? They think they’re a lot funnier. That’s it, jealous people."<ref>[https://entertainment.inquirer.net/521309/joey-de-leon-composes-poem-for-critics-cites-michael-vs-remark-on-comedians-predicament Joey de Leon composes poem for critics, cites Michael V’s remark on comedians’ predicament]</ref>

===The grooming gentlemen and the soda scandal===
{{cquote|Hangga’t may bata, may Eat Bulaga. (As long as there are children, there will be Eat Bulaga.)|||Joey de Leon<ref name="kids">[https://twitter.com/AngPoetNyo/status/1297499615550414849 Joey de Leon on Twitter] [https://ghostarchive.org/archive/Aiy9Y (Archive)].</ref>}}
[[File:Ryzza Mae Dizon in 2016.png|thumb|160px|left|Ryzza Mae Dizon in 2016. TVJ's close association with child performers led to concern and controversy over their treatment of minors.]]
Even more disturbing is their treatment of women and children both in their comedy routines and elsewhere, and yet they somehow escaped potential prosecution in spite of what amounts to [[child abuse]] if not outright [[paedophilia]] or ephebophilia, and in some cases enabling of [[rape culture]] and [[Blaming the victim|victim shaming]] by the trio.<ref name="lionheart"/>

{{wpl|Ryzza Mae Dizon}}, an actress who first gained popularity in the 2010s as a contestant in the "Little Miss Philippines" child beauty pageant segment, was involved in at least a few controversies, one of which was when Vic Sotto made an apparent paedophiliac remark towards her during the "Little Miss Philippines" coronation day in 2012, where Vic (ostensibly) made a slip of the tongue and asked if he could touch the then seven-year old girl provocatively, which he quickly corrected.{{efn|"Hipuan- ay, hipuin." The word "hipuan" in Tagalog bears negative sexual connotations as it refers to touching females inappropriately.}}<ref name="hipuan">[https://twitter.com/gelgeljeric/status/1685878062276308992 Pwedeng hipuan, ano? Ay hipuin? 🤮🤮] [https://ghostarchive.org/archive/BFmHU (Archive)]</ref> Dizon was once again at the centre of controversy when Sotto was summoned by the {{wpl|Movie and Television Review and Classification Board}} (MTRCB) for spitting juice in front of the girl in the "Ang Joke Ko" segment, about which the board expressed concern over "scenes allegedly insensitive and unfriendly to children".<ref>Bayani San Diego Jr., Marinel R. Cruz (September 4, 2013). "'Eat Bulaga,' 'The Ryzza Mae Show' violate 'dignity of the child'—MTRCB". pep.ph. Retrieved September 7, 2013.</ref>

In a 2018 ''Eat Bulaga!'' episode, the older hosts had then-six year old {{wpl|Baste Granfon|Sebastian "Baste" Granfon}}, also known by his stage name "Bae-by" Baste, sing the {{wpl|Bruno Mars}} single "{{wpl|Versace on the Floor}}",<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLHm9WhO6DU Baste singing Versace on the Floor (Trigger warning: Child singing sexually explicit lyrics)] [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/eLHm9WhO6DU (Archive)]</ref> the lyrics of which refer to an intimate encounter i.e. [[sex]].<ref>[https://www.songmeaningsandfacts.com/bruno-mars-versace-on-the-floor-lyrics-meaning/ Bruno Mars’ “Versace on the Floor” Lyrics Meaning]</ref> Anyone with the right mind would know how grossly inappropriate it would be to have a ''six-year old'', of all people, sing a mature song about ''sexual intercourse'',{{nofact}} and yet this somehow passed under MTRCB's radar in comparison to the shitstorm that ensued in a {{wpl|Wil Time Bigtime|rival game show}} where a six-year old boy was made to perform a suggestive dance to the tune of {{wpl|Dr. Dre}}'s "{{wpl|The Next Episode}}".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110807125606/http://globalnation.inquirer.net/columns/columns/view/20110325-327581/Willing-Willie-and-the-boy-who-wouldnt-smile "Willing Willie and the boy who wouldn't smile"]. ''Philippine Daily Inquirer''. Archived from the [http://globalnation.inquirer.net/columns/columns/view/20110325-327581/Willing-Willie-and-the-boy-who-wouldnt-smile original] on August 7, 2011.</ref>

But perhaps the most infamous of these indiscretions are the widely publicised allegations of [[rape]] by the late starlet {{wpl|Pepsi Paloma}} (born Delia Dueñas Smith) against the TVJ trio.<ref>[https://opinion.inquirer.net/40064/jimmy-savile-and-our-own-lovable-louts Jimmy Savile and our own ‘lovable louts’]</ref> Paloma previously appeared in a number of [[Porn|softcore]] films (known in local vernacular as "bomba" or "bold" films) as part of the so-called “Soft Drink Beauties” together with Coca Nicolas (née Johnnalee Hickins) and Sarsi Emmanuelle (née Maria Jennifer Obregon Mitchell),{{efn|Named after {{wpl|Coca-Cola}} and {{wpl|Sarsi (brand)|Sarsi}}, respectively.}}<ref>[https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/movies-and-tv/pepsi-paloma-sarsi-emanuelle-and-other-softdrink-beauties-of-the-80s-a2161-20180528-lfrm Where Are They Now: Pepsi Paloma and the Other 'Softdrink Beauties' of the '80s]</ref> and made her on-screen debut at just ''fifteen years old'' in ''Brown Emmanuelle'' (1982), making her (along with Nicolas and Emanuelle) the Philippines' answer to {{wpl|Traci Lords}}. Months after starring in ''Brown Emmanuelle'', Paloma wound up in an encounter with Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Ricardo "Richie D'Horsie" Reyes after making a guest appearance with fellow actress Guada Garin in ''Iskul Bukol'', where, according to her own account, she was drugged by the comedians, taken to a hotel room and gang-raped. Tito Sotto reportedly intervened and was alleged to have coerced Paloma into hushing up the affair by placing a pistol on the table in front of her.<ref name="inquirer">[https://web.archive.org/web/20170707193543/http://globalnation.inquirer.net/99861/the-rape-of-pepsi-paloma The rape of Pepsi Paloma (archived Inquirer page)]</ref> The ensuing scandal led the trio to issue a public apology in the October 13, 1982 edition of the ''People’s Journal'':

{{quotebox|We hope that you will not allow the error we have committed against you to stand as a stumbling block to that future which we all look forward to. We, therefore, ask you to find it in your heart to pardon us for the wrong which we have done against you.<ref name="inquirer"/>}}

[[File:Pepsi Can.jpg|thumb|160px|right|The Pepsi brand has a mixed reputation in the Philippines, both because of Pepsi Paloma and {{wpl|Pepsi Number Fever}}.]]
Tito vehemently denied any wrongdoing by his brother Vic in an interview with ''Who'' magazine published on September 29, 1982, reasoning that he was "too frail and skinny" to sexually violate Paloma. De Leon, being the callous [[edgelord]] [[proll]] that he is, made a mockery of the controversy and wore a "Coke is it" shirt during a hearing at the Quezon City Fiscal’s office as a [[dog whistle]] reference to the Paloma scandal.<ref name="esquire">[https://esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/who-magazine-pepsi-paloma-through-tito-vic-joey-a00203-20180706-lfrm This 1982 Interview Gives Tito Sotto & Joey de Leon's Account of the Pepsi Paloma Rape Case]</ref><ref>[https://imgur.com/a/35DsG0J WHO Magazine September 29, 1982 issue]</ref> Paloma did not pursue any further charges against the comedians{{efn|Especially given the Sottos' political influence and connections, so go figure.}} and was later found dead in an apparent suicide.<ref name="esq1">[https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/33-years-after-she-died-we-still-remember-the-myth-of-pepsi-paloma-a1729-20180531-lfrm2 "33 Years After She Died, We Still Remember the Myth of Pepsi Paloma"]. Esquire. Retrieved 28 February 2019.</ref> Tito later dismissed the allegations as a mere publicity stunt on the part of Paloma and denied having used his political influence to turn the case in their favour;<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20160305011026/http://entertainment.inquirer.net/191427/tito-sotto-denies-whitewashing-pepsi-paloma-rape-case Tito Sotto denies whitewashing Pepsi Paloma rape case]</ref> he did on the other hand [[Censorship|pressure]] the ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' into suppressing online articles mentioning the Paloma scandal on the grounds that it was "damaging" to his public image as a senator,<ref>[http://globalnation.inquirer.net/99861/the-rape-of-pepsi-paloma "INQUIRER.net statement on the Pepsi Paloma stories"]. 5 July 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2019.</ref> apparently not getting the memo that there's such a thing as the [[Streisand effect]] anyway.<ref>[https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/beware-the-streisand-effect-tito-sotto-a00203-20180618-lfrm "Beware The Streisand Effect: a Short Explainer for Sen. Tito Sotto"]. Esquire. June 18, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.pep.ph/pepalerts/pep-troika/22073/senador-tito-sotto-na-streisand-effect-sa-pepsi-paloma-case Senador Tito Sotto, na-Streisand effect sa Pepsi Paloma case]</ref> Adding salt to TVJ's wound was when a self-described "white-hat [[troll]]" uploaded scans of the ''Who'' interview with the trio, where it was written that Joey had the gall to remark about a court clerk who "whispered she wished she were the one raped".<ref name="esquire"/> Perhaps intriguingly enough, in a 2024 interview with journalist {{wpl|Julius Babao}}–which was uploaded in time for ''E.A.T.''{{'}}s relaunch as ''Eat Bulaga'' after TVJ Productions was awarded the rights to use the old ''Bulaga'' brand–fellow former Soft Drink Beauty Coca Nicolas also denied the allegations, maintaining that the whole TVJ rape scandal was a public relations stunt orchestrated by their manager, Rey dela Cruz:

{{quotebox|Coca: “Totoo ba yung sa inyo ni Tito, Vic, and Joey?” (“Was that thing with you and Tito, Vic, and Joey true?”)

Pepsi: “Hindi ah! Alam mo naman si Tito Rey... Parang hindi ka naman naano diyan kay Tito. Lahat gagawin niya para sumikat tayo." (“No! I'm sure you know Tito Rey... It's not like he hasn't done anything to you. He'll do everything to make us famous.”)<ref name="pepcoca">[https://www.pep.ph/pepalerts/cabinet-files/178194/coca-nicolas-pepsi-paloma-issue-a734-20240107?ref=article_featured_3 Former bold star Coca Nicolas nagsalita tungkol sa nalalaman niya sa Pepsi Paloma controversy]</ref>}}

The suspicious circumstances of Pepsi's fall from grace and death served to fuel much speculation and [[conspiracy theories]], one notable example being the {{wpl|Eraserheads}} song "Spoliarium", which was widely alleged to be a veiled allusion to the Paloma affair, particularly the lines ''"Umiyak ang umaga/Anong sinulat ni Enteng at Joey diyan/Sa pintong salamin/'Di ko na mabasa/'Pagkat merong nagbura"'' (transl. "The morning cried/What did Enteng and Joey write on the glass door/I couldn't read it/Because someone erased it") which are interpreted to be a reference to Tito Sotto's supposed efforts at a [[coverup]]. Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia later denied in a podcast that the song was in any way alluding to TVJ's encounter with Paloma, as it was just about their experiences when they were intoxicated at some point in their careers; the "Enteng and Joey" mentioned in the song were merely their roadies at the time.<ref>[https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/ely-buendia-dispels-urban-myth-about-eraserheads-song-spoliarium-the-actual-meaning-is-really-mundane-2898082 Ely Buendia dispels urban myth about Eraserheads song ‘Spoliarium’: “The actual meaning is really mundane”]</ref> He would further reiterate at a media conference that the song had nothing to do with the scandal and that the conspiracy theories surrounding the song saddened him, stating "This is a sad thing. I was really heartbroken when that thing came out because I was such a huge fan," he added. "They are my heroes and I wouldn't dream of writing a song to tarnish my heroes, so that's the most ridiculous rumor."<ref name="Ramos">{{Cite news |last=Ramos |first=Jansen |title=Ely Buendia reaffirms 'Spoliarium' is not about TVJ and Pepsi Paloma |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/22947/ely-buendia-reaffirms-spoliarium-is-not-about-tvj-and-pepsi-paloma/photo |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=[[GMA News]] |language=en |publication-date=2025-02-18}}</ref> Interestingly, the band would be in Tito Sotto's crosshairs as Sotto sought to ban the Eraserheads single "Alapaap" over its alleged reference to substance abuse, which indeed turned out to be an ode to [[marijuana]] as Buendia eventually confessed in an interview.<ref>[https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/profiles/ely-buendia-a1553-20170509-lfrm5 Ely Buendia on Existence, Loneliness, and the Songs That Matter]. Esquire. Erwin Romulo (9 May 2017)</ref> Buendia and his bandmates also co-starred in the drag comedy film{{efn|Which also doubled as a promotional video album for the band, conveniently enough.}} ''{{wpl|Run Barbi Run}}'' alongside de Leon who starred as the titular Barbi.<ref>[https://www.interaksyon.com/entertainment/2017/11/28/110764/paolo-ballesteros-honored-to-take-on-joey-de-leons-barbi-character/amp/ "Paolo Ballesteros honored to take on Joey de Leon's 'Barbi' character"]. Interaksyon. November 28, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2020.</ref> There also supposedly exists live televised footage of TVJ tearfully begging Paloma (and by extension the public) for forgiveness on ''Eat Bulaga'', something which intrigued lost media enthusiasts who sought for its discovery, if it existed at all; speculation has it that the live apology did exist but was suppressed by TAPE, Inc. on Tito Sotto's orders.<ref>[https://lostmediawiki.com/Eat_Bulaga!_%22Vic_Sotto,_Joey_de_Leon,_Richie_D%E2%80%99_Horsie%22_(lost_live_TV_apology;_existence_unconfirmed;_1982) Eat Bulaga! "Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Richie D’ Horsie" (lost live TV apology; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]</ref> And to top it all off, had Vic, Joey and Richie been properly prosecuted and convicted of the crimes they were accused of, they would have been [[Capital punishment|sent to the electric chair]] for statutory rape, a fate which befell three of four convicted rapists in actress Maggie de la Riva's case a decade prior,<ref name="esq1"/> which had the dubious honour of having the rapists' executions broadcast on live radio under Ferdinand Marcos's orders.<ref>[http://video48.blogspot.com/2008/07/may-17-1972-maggie-de-la-riva-rape-case.html "Video 48: May 17, 1972: The Maggie de la Riva Rape Case, Part 3: 3 Die in Chair at Muntinlupa"]. July 22, 2008.</ref>

In 2025 the announcement of the biographical crime drama film ''{{wpl|The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma}}'' sparked yet another resurgence in interest in Paloma's life and brief adult film career. As the title implies, the film will depict Paloma's softcore career up until her alleged rape in the hands of the TVJ trio and fellow comedian Richie D'Horsie and subsequent suicide, and was directed by noted indie filmmaker {{wpl|Darryl Yap}}. Unsurprisingly, the film's provocative premise of portraying a trio of celebrated public figures as a creepy band of gang-bangers sparked immense discussion on social media, with some praising the film's bold and daring story and other condemning Yap and cautioning him on the potential implications of taking on a powerful political family over the supposed skeletons they have in their closet.<ref>{{cite web|title=Darryl Yap defends upcoming Pepsi Paloma film amid backlash over teaser |url=https://theglobalfilipinomagazine.com/darryl-yap-defends-upcoming-pepsi-paloma-film-amid-backlash-over-teaser/ |publisher=The global Filipino Magazine |date=January 2, 2025 |access-date=January 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=De Leon |first=Richard |title='The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma' produced nga ba ng mga Jalosjos, kalaban ni Vico? |url=https://balita.mb.com.ph/2025/01/02/the-rapists-of-pepsi-paloma-produced-nga-ba-ng-mga-jalosjos-kalaban-ni-vico/ |publisher=[[Manila Bulletin]] |date=January 2, 2025 |access-date=January 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=De Leon |first=Richard |title=Vic Sotto, trending matapos mabanggit sa teaser ng 'The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma' |trans-title=Vic Sotto, trends after mention in teaser of 'The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma' |url=https://balita.mb.com.ph/2025/01/02/vic-sotto-trending-matapos-mabanggit-sa-teaser-ng-the-rapists-of-pepsi-paloma/ |work=Balita|publisher=[[Manila Bulletin]] |date=January 2, 2025 |access-date=January 3, 2025|language=fil}}</ref> And it didn't sit well with the Sottos either, as Vic Sotto – who was name-dropped in the teaser – filed a libel suit against Yap for perceived defamation due in part to Sotto's young daughter Talitha "Tali" Maria Luna having been the subject of school [[bullying]] over her father's alleged involvement in the Paloma scandal.<ref>{{cite news |last1= Bonoan |first1=Reggee |title=Vic Sotto pinalagan si Darryl Yap dahil ‘binu-bully’ na sa eskwelahan si Tali |url= https://bandera.inquirer.net/404227/vic-sotto-pinalagan-si-darryl-yap-dahil-binu-bully-na-sa-eskwelahan-si-tali?|trans-title=Vic Sotto named Darryl Yap for bullying of Tali in school|accessdate=January 10, 2025 |work= [[Inquirer Bandera]]|date=January  10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Escuadro |first=Kiko |title=Vic Sotto to file complaint against Darryl Yap |url=https://tribune.net.ph/amp/story/2025/01/08/vic-sotto-to-file-complaint-against-darryl-yap |publisher=[[Daily Tribune (Philippines)|Daily Tribune]] |date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref> In a morbidly ironic twist, Yap himself was the subject of paedophilia accusations as a number of social media users accused him of having groomed them online. Yap was also intensely criticised for a rather creepy remark he made in 2017 where he tweeted "Children are delicious!".<ref name="Pedophilia">{{Cite news|date=May 28, 2020|title=Local director Darryl Yap addresses 'pedophile' accusations|work=Interaksyon|url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2020/05/28/169482/local-director-darryl-yap-addresses-pedophile-accusations/}}</ref>

Equally disturbing if not even more so is Romeo Jalosjos Sr., TAPE, Inc. owner and TVJ's erstwhile employer prior to their exodus to ''E.A.T.''. Jalosjos was at the center of a highly publicised scandal in 1997 when he was convicted of [[child sexual abuse]] involving an eleven-year old aspiring actress who got roped into Jalosjos's casting couch by the girl's father who was [[prostitution|pimping]] her at the time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Philippine congressman charged with rape |publisher=UPI |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/12/17/Philippine-congressman-charged-with-rape/3041850798800/ |date=17 December 1996 |access-date=30 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="cosmo">[https://www.cosmo.ph/news/never-forget-eat-bulaga-owner-romeo-jalosjos-convicted-child-rapist-a254-20230602 Never Forget: Eat Bulaga’s Owner Romeo Jalosjos Is A Convicted Child Rapist]</ref><ref>[https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/content/71726/the-conviction-of-romeo-jalosjos/story/ The Conviction of Romeo Jalosjos]</ref> Despite being supposedly slapped with life imprisonment for paedophilia, Jalosjos's stint in prison amounted more to a government-sponsored vacation than a punitive act against a child sex offender, using his political influence to build lavish facilities all while behind bars.<ref name="preen">[https://preen.ph/44765/romeo-jalosjos-filing-pardon-means-okay-rape Romeo Jalosjos Filing for Pardon Means We’re Okay with Rape]</ref> And if that wasn't enough, then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted him clemency<ref>[https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/73033/jalosjos-walks-out-of-new-bilibid-prison-a-free-man/story/ Jalosjos walks out of New Bilibid Prison a free man]</ref> and eventually pardoned him for "[[Bullshit|good behavior]]",<ref name="preen"/><ref name="cosmo"/> all in spite of the verdict branding him as a kiddie-diddler at "the bottom of the barrel of moral depravity" where "no legal system worthy of the name can afford to ignore the traumatic consequences for the unfortunate victim and grievous injury to the peace and good order of the community".<ref>[https://chanrobles.com/scdecisions/jurisprudence2001/nov2001/gr_132875_2001.php G.R. Nos. 132875-76 - November 16, 2001 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROMEO G. JALOSJOS, Accused-Appellant.]</ref> Jalosjos also had the arrogance to lump himself alongside Jose Rizal and [[Nelson Mandela]] on the mere basis that they too were jailed for crimes against the state, never mind the fact that Rizal and Mandela were convicted because they spoke out against a corrupt system, not fucking with innocent little girls, stating "history is built with stories about great men who became great because he was jailed first."<ref name="newsline">{{Cite news |last=Caduaya |first=Editha |date=7 March 2021 |title=Romeo Jalosjos Sr., up close and personal |url=https://newsline.ph/romeo-jalosjos-sr-up-close-and-personal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204030748/https://newsline.ph/romeo-jalosjos-sr-up-close-and-personal/ |archive-date=2024-12-04 |access-date=2024-12-04 |publisher=Newsline.ph}}</ref>

===Sotto, the swiping senator===
[[File:Sotto kanging.jpg|thumb|160px|right|I could get away with this. After all, I am an influential politician.]]
Besides the above-mentioned Paloma affair, Tito Sotto, a noted politician, has had his fair share of gaffes throughout his career as a statesman. An outspoken conservative [[pro-life]] activist, Sotto vehemently opposed the passage of the {{wpl|Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012|Reproductive Health Bill}} which aims to provide Filipinos proper access to contraceptives.<ref>[http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/270075/news/nation/speech-of-senator-tito-sotto-on-the-rh-bill-part-1 "Speech of Senator Tito Sotto on the RH Bill, Part 1"]. GMA News. GMA Network. August 16, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.</ref> He made his opinions known through his speeches in 2012, but this fell through when it was found out that Sotto's passages were [[Plagiarism|ripped wholesale]] from a blog post written by American home economist columnist Sarah Pope<ref>Pope, Sarah (February 23, 2011). [http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/how-the-pill-can-harm-your-future-childs-health/ "How The Pill Can Harm Your Future Child's Health"]. ''The Healthy Economist''. Retrieved August 17, 2012.</ref> and U.S. senator [[Robert Kennedy]]'s 1966 address to [[South Africa]]ns,<ref>Syjuco, Miguel (November 10, 2012). "Kennedy to Sotto: 'This is a clear case of plagiarism'". Rappler. Retrieved June 8, 2017.</ref> which he [[quote mining|quote-mined]] to further his anti-contraception agenda.

Despite being berated by both Pope and Robert Kennedy's daughter for flagrant kanging, Sotto expressed defiance<ref>"Sotto dares bloggers: Sue me". The Daily Tribune. The Daily Tribune Publishing. August 17, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.</ref> and asserted that he did not plagiarise them, erroneously believing that an unattributed translation of someone else's manuscript does not count as plagiarism.<ref>Teeves, Oliver (August 17, 2012). [https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iUsmldyD1xJkuLOkxSvBohbh55KA?docId=efbb1292fb034da5bf694a2960906607 "US blogger accuses Filipino senator of plagiarism"]. Associated Press. Retrieved August 18, 2012.</ref> Journalist Raissa Robles opined that Sotto's flippant disregard for [[copyright]] over works published on the internet, i.e. his erroneous assumption that everything online is "[[public domain]]" and thus free real estate would effectively make him an unwitting digital [[piracy|pirate]].<ref>Flores, Karen (August 17, 2012). [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/17/12/sotto-would-be-championing-piracy "Sotto would be championing piracy"]. ABS-CBN. Retrieved August 18, 2012.</ref>

Sotto was also one of two senators who added libel provisions to the {{wpl|Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012}}, which criminalised (perceived) slander online. He however denied he did so to get back at those who mocked and criticised him for the plagiarism he committed.<ref>Bordadora, Norman (October 2, 2012). [http://technology.inquirer.net/17718/sotto-admits-he-proposed-online-libel-provision "Sotto admits he proposed online libel provision"]. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 8, 2017.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Raffy Tulfo]] - Filipino senator and television personality also known for obscenity controversies and exploitation of poverty.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Comedians]]
[[Category:Ableism]]
[[Category:Asian politicians]]
[[Category:Denialists]]
[[Category:Government incompetence]]
[[Category:Homophobes]]
[[Category:Islamophobes]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Media hysteria]]
[[Category:Mental health woo]]
[[Category:Paedophilia]]
[[Category:Philippines]]
[[Category:Plagiarists]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Rape]]
[[Category:Sexists]]
[[Category:Television]]
[[Category:Parodists]]

Categories: Comedians, Ableism, Asian politicians, Denialists, Government incompetence, Homophobes, Islamophobes, Living people, Media, Media hysteria, Mental health woo, Paedophilia, Philippines, Plagiarists, Racists, Rape, Sexists, Television, Parodists