ABS-CBN is no stranger
from situations where its TV programs were found by review board MTRCB as
disturbing or questionable. This time around, the top TV network in the land is under the microscopic eyes of the review board and found that the current
edition of its reality TV show “Pinoy Big Brother 737” contained disturbing
situations on the alleged bromance that is developing between 18 year old male
teenager Lorenzo “Kenzo” Gutierrez and a 12 year old pre-teenager Bailey Thomas
May.
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| Image from Entertainment.Inquirer.net |
The MTRCB Reaction
According to MTRCB reviewers, they
were quite disturbed with some scenes involving the two as it involved (to the
words of MTRCB) “flirtatious talks and actions" involving minor housemates. With this, the movie and TV board has
summoned PBB official on what MTRCB called as “developmental conference” as
the board received numerous complaints and feedback about this ABS–CBN reality TV
show. In its statement, MTRCB stated
that the PBB show has compromised fragile sensibilities and personalities of
some minor housemates in the show and further added that the behavior exhibited
by these minor housemates might threaten their moral and personal developments.
The ABS–CBN Counterreaction
Of course, ABS – CBN did
not take this sitting down and lambasted netizens as being irresponsible for taking screenshots of various live stream images and weave a story that is according to
people in the network wa very far from the truth and as a result put these minor
housemates in a negative light. They did
not only minced words but also decided to shut down its round the clock
streaming of the reality TV show in order to protect the welfare of the
housemates. This move is ABS-CBN's way of sending message that they will not
tolerate social network abuse.
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| Image from philstar.com |
The Netizens Opinion
The screen grabs indeed
made the rounds in Facebook and elicited mostly negative comments and in
general, many netizens lamented that the show is not stopping anything in order
to win the ratings game. For them, this
situation is just a ploy to generate interest for the reality TV show of the
network as it is no longer getting the same high ratings like it used to. Some even commented that this is probably a
strategy for the show to stay in the radar of millions of Filipinos. One thing which is very common with the
comments is that many believed that the images they saw between the two minors
involved in the “bromance” isn’t really palatable to their senses.
One psychologist however,
categorized the actions of both Bailey and Kenzo as brotherly love as Dr. Randy
Dellosa opined that the behavior was just “a deep affection between two males,”
he said. It is quite lonely inside the
PBB house; thus, the probable reason for the intimate behavior exhibited between the two minors which is to show support
towards each other. However, one of
ABS-CBN's TV directors Wenn DeRamas made a mockery of the psychologists statement
saying that he did not see it as brotherly love but rather an obvious sign of
homosexuality.
What Should Be Done?
What is interesting with
ABS-CBN's reaction was that the network was quick to point out and make an issue
out of everyone else’s actions but when it is the butt of attention of many netizens,
the network was quick to condemn these people. Thus, there is this question why
can’t they face the tune and participate on a comprehensive effort to make the
reality TV show worthwhile among millions of TV viewers. Instead of being a cry
baby, why not encourage netizens to provide constructive inputs on how to deal
with the “bromance” or brotherly affection between Kenzo and Bailey. To start with, why not let the TV viewers
decide if it was really "bromance" or brotherly affection or why not let the TV
viewers decide the course of the story?
One More Thing
It is also imperative for
the MTRCB to dwell on the appropriateness of a 12 year old being involved in a TV
show that is similar to social experiment.
This should be one of the angles that should be taken if it is legal for the
show to accept Bailey in this reality TV show.
This is quite ironic considering that the network supports BANTAY BATA
163 yet there is this possibility that they are breaking some legal laws when
it comes to protection of minors and children.
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