Gerald Anderson said he’s not affected by bashers using his previous TV role Budoy to ridicule him.
In an ABS-CBN News interview, the Init Sa Magdamag star said that portraying the title character of a mentally-challenged boy in the 2011 Kapamilya series Budoy is one of the highlights of his life and career.
Gerald, who has received criticisms online in relation to his love life, reacted to how “haters” have used the character to attack him, saying he doesn’t understand why they do it.
“Para i-bash din ako, ginagamit yung ‘Budoy.’ It’s funny kasi parang, ‘Really’? I mean, siyempre, kahit anong sabihin ko, hindi naman sila titigil. May mga tao talaga na parang walang ibang ginagawa kundi mag-bash o mag-hate.”
While he isn’t affected by the bashing, he condemned those who used his Budoy character to express hate as a mockery of people with special needs.
“Parang ‘Why’? Unang-una hindi ako na-o-offend. Pangalawa, natutuwa pa nga ako na it’s been so long and naaalala pa rin ‘yung character na yan. So yung nang-bash sa akin, isa ka rin sa mga nanuod,” Gerald said.
“‘Yung magbigay ng hate even not using Budoy or kung anong ibang word, it shows your character. And for you to use the character of Budoy, isang special child, parang paano mo nata-type ‘yun? Ano’ng tumatakbo sa isip mo para mag-hate ka and use ‘yung ganoong klaseng tao, to get back at me for whatever reason kung bakit ayaw mo sa akin?” he lamented.
The 32-year-old-actor stressed that he will always take pride in having portrayed Budoy.
“At the end of the day, pag nakikita ko nga ‘yun — wala yung effect na iniisip nila. And it just makes me sad for the other people. Hindi ko gets ‘yung point eh. It’s sad because there’s so much hate on social media.”
“I will forever be proud. Kahit tawagin mo ako ng Budoy ng paulit-ulit, it’s something I’ll always be proud of,” said Gerald.
