KAKAI Bautista said she is unfazed by the backlash she received after defending sports reporter Apple David’s relationship with 18-year-old basketball player Chad Gammad, saying the insults hurled at her online are “not true” and legal action remains an option if the attacks escalate.
During an interview with Ogie Diaz uploaded on YouTube on July 20, Bautista said most of the bashing came from content creators who questioned her decision to side with David and Gammad amid criticisms surrounding their 15-year age gap.
Bautista said that she reached out to David and asked everything she could about their relationship. She said David told her that Gammad was already 18 years old when they met and that he was the one who pursued her.
“Everything is fine with her work, with the parents of the guy, her family. Everything is okay,” she said.
“So, what’s your problem? What is it? Ano yung problema natin by being happy for other people and celebrating other people’s happiness? Why do we have double standards?” Bautista said, addressing the bashers.
The actress-comedian shared that she has been receiving relentless hate after voicing support for the couple.
“Ang dami kong mga hate messages sa Instagram. They call me names. Hindi ako nasasaktan kasi it’s not true. I won’t be hurt by something that is not true. That is not me. Pedo (pedophile), groomer, enabler. Pedo is a very strong word. And before all of this, and reaching out to Apple David, I already talked to my lawyer,” she said.
Bautista revealed that she had already documented the online attacks, reminding social media users that the Cybercrime Prevention Act could apply to defamatory posts.
Bautista urged critics to verify facts before making accusations, saying she believes she did nothing wrong by supporting the couple.
“Para sa akin, before you throw a lot of hateful words sa akin, please verify and validate all your facts. Kasi for me, I did not do anything wrong by enabling happiness. And sinabi ni Ms. Apple sa akin, when she met Chad, kagagaling lang ni Chad sa Canada. Laking Canada. Medyo liberated,” she said.
The actress-singer also expressed concern over what she described as the normalization of hateful comments and “cancel culture” on social media.
While she said she is choosing to let the issue pass for now, Bautista warned that she could still pursue legal action if the attacks become excessive.
For her bashers, Bautista has this to say: “Before you throw a lot of hateful words, please verify and validate all your facts. Because for me, I did not do anything wrong by enabling happiness.” (Jessica Ann Evangelista © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
