ABS-CBN condemns ‘PBB’ controversy, shuts down livestreaming

Amid rumors of a blooming romance between two male housemates of “Pinoy Big Brother 737” (PBB), ABS-CBN Corp. denounced social media posts linking 18-year-old Karlo Lorenzo “Kenzo” Gutierrez and 12-year-old Bailey Thomas May, and decided to shut down its livestreaming of the reality program.

In a press statement on Friday, ABS-CBN corporate communications head Kane Errol Choa said the viral photos of Gutierrez and May holding hands and hugging “put the housemates in a bad light.”

“These posts are made by irresponsible netizens who maliciously take screenshots from the program’s livestream and weave a narrative that is not only far from truth, but also attempts to put the housemates in a bad light,” Choa said. “They mislead the public by manipulating the images to put malice to otherwise innocent acts.”

READ: Closeness between PBB boys Kenzo, Bailey sends netizens abuzz

Choa said ABS-CBN had the duty to safeguard the welfare of the housemates, adding it would not tolerate the abuse of social media.

“ABS-CBN vehemently condemns these irresponsible social media posts that malign the reputation of the housemates … We will not allow them to be subjected to cyberbullying,” he said.

To put a stop to the controversy, Choa said ABS-CBN would cancel its 24/7 free livestreaming of the reality show on cable television and online starting Friday night.

“We appeal to the public to stop perpetuating abuse and use social media responsibly,” he added.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board has summoned officials of “PBB” to a “developmental conference” on July 9 over “numerous feedback and complaints.” Yuji Vincent Gonzales

READ: MTRCB summons PBB execs amid bromance controversy