A British blogger, who describes himself a “Pinoy at heart,” told American singer and record producer Benny Blanco to apologize for disrespecting fast food brand Jollibee and Filipinos.
London-based Malcolm Conlan, who “love the Philippines and Filipino people with all my heart and soul,” defended Jollibee against Blanco, who uploaded a TikTok video in which he criticized the taste and smell of Jollibee products bought in the US.
British blogger Malcolm Conlan loves the Philippines and its people (Photos from Conlan's Facebook account)
Benny Blanco eating Jollibee food products (Screenshots from Blanco's TikTok video)
“Dear sir, Not sure who you are, I believe you are the partner of Selena Gomez? I was trying to refrain from watching your review of Jollibee USA in that I do understand the fact that Jollibee and indeed Filipino food even is not going to be to everyone’s liking. BUT and here is where I take issue with your video,” Conlan posted on Facebook.
He added, “Amongst other menu items which also met with your clear disappointment, you also tried the Jollibee spaghetti which is an absolute classic in the Philippines, not only from Jollibee, but the whole concept of sweet spaghetti etc with pieces of sausage inside and loaded with cheese is one of the staples of Filipino cuisine. It’s incredibly popular back home in the Philippines and personally I absolutely love it.”
In a video titled “my first time trying jollibee,” Blanco, whose stepmom is a Filipino, tried Jollibee’s ChickenJoy, adobo rice, spaghetti and pineapple juice
He tried the adobo rice and said, “Look at this dry-ass adobo rice. Sorry, this dry-ass adobo rice. Tastes like b-tt."
Blanco then tasted the ChickenJoy which he dipped in gravy and said, “Okay, Jollibee. Okay. Let me tell you one thing. I really think the gravy is just tricking me. Chicken's not even that good. Gravy-spired chicken is actually kinda soggy as f-ck."
He opened the spaghetti tray and said, “What the f-ck is this? All right, this sh-t smells like f—ng vomit. It's spaghetti with like little hotdogs in it and like cheese. What the f-ck? Let me get a fork."
He started eating the spaghetti and spat it on the spaghetti tray.
"I feel like that just ruined my night. Ew, Jollibee, ew!" he said.
Blanco also dissed the Jollibee fries.
"All right, look at these limp-d*ck ass fries. I can’t I can't even try this. Are you f*ck*ng kidding? Look, it's not all they're all limp-d-ck," he said.
After the fries, he ate the Jollibee peach mango pie.
“You f-cked up with the spaghetti, Jollibee. You made my phone fall down. It’s good [peach mango pie] but, like, don't go to Jollibee. This sh*t sucks," he said.
In his post, Conlan said, “My big issue is this, I believe your video was to garnish a negative reaction from Filipinos and in some way make your video more popular. Why else would you over exaggerate you almost being sick after eating it, saying that the spaghetti ‘smells like vomit’ totally overeacting.”
“I have eaten Jollibee spaghetti hundreds if not thousands of times and not once have I ever likened its smell to anything other than sweet spaghetti!!! Have you never eaten anything sweet before?” he asked Blanco.
He said, “I hope you don’t mind me educating you, but as I was outraged by your reaction to the said spaghetti I feel I must!!!”
“Jollibee is an absolutely iconic Filipino fast food brand in the Philippines and millions around the world love the brand as it reminds them of back home. There are over 11 million overseas Filipino workers globally who basically help to prop up other countries shortfalls in workers and therefore you will also see Jollibee has expanded globally too,” he said.
According to him, “Jolly spaghetti reminds many Filipinos of their childhood, family visits to Jollibee on special occasions such as birthday parties, family outings and other such occasions are celebrated are celebrated often with #jollyspaghetti.”
“So for you to almost heave as you try it, whilst being rude and insulting about it has angered me as it’s highly disrespectful to Filipinos, their food and their culture,” he said.
Conland added, “I am not even Filipino, yet as someone with a Filipino family, I found it insulting. Have you not got any manners? If the food affected you that much, you probably could have just cut the video and left it alone, instead you chose to carry on and cause further damage!!!”
“I do hope you will apologise for the disrespect you have shown towards many Filipinos and one of their most popular fast food favourites. Thank you,” he said.
Conlan also uploaded a video on TikTok to defend Jollibee.