Close friends of Kris Aquino have come to the defense of her son, Josh, following the controversial remarks made by hosts of the now-deleted episode of comedy podcast “Machong Chismisan”.
In the episode, host Tito P, also known as Tito Patrioto, compared Josh, who is on the autism spectrum, with his younger brother, Bimby, and called him “walang kwenta.”
Another host, RJ Carbonell, also mocked Josh over receiving a daily school allowance of P3,000 and joked about him as “nakatunganga lang” at school.
The remarks drew criticism from netizens and people close to the Aquino family, including Kris’ longtime friend and former co-host Boy Abunda, her former partner Mark Leviste, fashion designer Michael Leyva, and TV writer-producer Darla Sauler.
Abunda expressed his dismay over the remarks in an episode of his GMA talk show, “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda”.
“Alam niyo po ang masakit ay ‘yung he was being compared to Bimb. ‘Nakatunganga lamang, walang kwenta.’ And you are talking about a young man with disability. He’s talking about a special boy,” the veteran host reacted to the issue.
“Mahal na mahal po si Josh ng pamilyang Aquino… Hindi po walang silbi si Josh. Mali po ang inyong ginawa. Labag sa batas ng Diyos at sa batas ng tao ang inyong ginawa. Napakasakit,” Abunda said.
Boy also said he would advise Kris to pursue legal action against the podcast hosts.
“If Kris would ask me, we haven’t had the chance to speak about this, I would tell her, go to court. Idemanda mo. Dahil ito ay labag sa batas,” he added.
Meanwhile, Leviste, who was previously in a relationship with Kris, shared a heartfelt defense of Josh, whom he described as someone he loves like his own son.
“I know Kuya Josh personally. I love him like my own son, and my children love him like their own older brother. He is one of the kindest, sweetest, most prayerful, and loving people you will ever meet,” Leviste wrote on Facebook.
He also condemned the hosts for calling Josh “walang kwenta” and making fun of him publicly.
“To call him ‘walang kwenta’ and mock him publicly is absolutely unacceptable! T*** ***!!! Wala akong nakikitang ka-machohan at katawatawa sa mga inasal ng mga nang-insulto kay Kuya Josh!” he added.
Leviste further stressed that freedom of expression should not protect anyone from accountability, particularly when remarks demean a person because of a disability.
“You may call yourselves comedians or podcasters, but freedom of expression does not exempt you from accountability! There’s a difference between making people laugh and turning someone into a laughingstock. When your foolish words and slapstick humor demean someone, especially because of his disability, you cross a line that should never be crossed!” he said.
He also called on the hosts to take full responsibility for their actions and issue a sincere apology to Josh and his family.
Leyva, meanwhile, took to Instagram to criticize the podcast hosts for ridiculing Josh, describing the incident as unacceptable.
“Making Kuya Josh the subject of your so-called “Machong Chismisan” podcast and mocking his disability is not something that I or any of us should simply let slide,” he wrote.
“Kuya Josh is a genuinely kind and intelligent person who deserves all the love and support this world has to offer. Not the hurtful words you used to make fun of him. it is not funny, and it will never be funny,” the artist added.
Sauler, who previously worked with Kris on her talk show Kris TV and had known her and her family for years, also expressed her love and admiration for Josh in a message posted on Instagram.
“I love you, Kuya Josh! You are one of the kindest, most thoughtful, and most generous people I know. Mula pagkabata, witness na ako kung paano mo alagaan si Mama at si Bimb sa paraang alam mo, at kung paano mo rin alalahanin ang lahat ng tao sa paligid mo,” she wrote.
“And that, to me, says so much about the person you are. Kaya lahat ng tunay na nakakakilala sa’yo, bilib sa’yo at mahal na mahal ka. Because we see your heart. We see your kindness. And we know that you have so much love to give,” Sauler added.
“I love you always, Kuya Joshy. Keep that beautiful heart of yours. The world needs more people like you,” she concluded.
Following the backlash, The Pod Network announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14, that it had terminated its contract with Machong Chismisan and would remove the podcast from its network effective immediately.
As of writing, the Aquino family has yet to publicly address the controversy.
