The “It’s Showtime” hosts led by Amy Perez issued an apology yesterday, after a member of the noontime program’s girl group, GirlTrends, drew flak from netizens for delivering a crude joke about being an orphan.
“Ang buong programa po ay humihingi po ng inyong paumanhin. Hindi po namin intensyon na mawalan ng respeto at gawing katawa-tawa ang kahit na sinong tao,” Perez said.
ERIN OCAMPO (Instagram)
The joke in question came about from Erin Ocampo during an “It’s Showtime’s” “PUROKatatawanan” segment, wherein the hosts trade banter with one another.
She asked Hashtags’ member Jimboy Martin: “Paano gumawa ng panget na anak?”
After thinking about it for a minute or two, Martin replied: “Bakit hindi mo tanong sa nanay mo?”
She then clapped back and insisted in jest: “Mali. Tanong mo sa totoo mong magulang kasi ampon ka!”
Ocampo drew ridicule from many viewers, as well as from Norfil Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization that provides orphaned children help.
The orphan joked was deemed “insensitive” and “ignorant.”
On a statement posted on Twitter, the organization said: “We at NORFIL Foundation Inc., would like to express our grave alarm and dismay to Showtime's episode that was aired June 7, 2018 (Thursday)...
“This kind of insensitive and ignorant joke should not be tolerated and taken lightly. We hope that the media, as a powerful influence should convey proper information about legal adoption.
"As an adoption agency, we are calling for support and proper corrective action regarding this issue especially from MTRCB and Department of Social Welfare and Development. All children are beautiful and unique.”
'IT'S SHOWTIME' hosts apologized yesterday over 'insensitive' orphan joke
Perez acknowledged the misunderstanding and promised that they will be more careful and responsible hosts in the future.
“Magtiwala po kayo na mas lalo po kaming magiging maingat, responsable, at sensitibo sa aming mga salita para sa kasiyahan po ng lahat. Muli, amin pong paumanhin sa lahat at mahal po namin kayo, Madlang People. Maraming salamat po.”