Alden Richards draws flak for ‘insensitive’ question to abuse victim

Actor-host Alden Richards. Image: Facebook/@AldenRichards

Alden Richards has been criticized over his question directed to an abuse victim on “Bawal Judgmental.”

“Bawal Judgmental” a segment on the noontime show “Eat Bulaga,” involved domestic abuse victims in its episode yesterday, Jan. 9.

Among them was a contestant, Ate Chelle, who recounted her experience of abuse. She said that she was physically harmed and that her husband would keep going to beer houses, even if they had no money to spend for themselves and their three kids.

As she told her story, the 29-year-old actor asked, “Ate Chelle sa tingin mo? Kagaya nung sinabi ni doc (psychologist Dawn Dela Cruz) kanina na parang di ba siyempre may pagkukulang iyong mga asawa, ikaw, ano sa tingin mo ‘yung pagkukulang mo sa asawa mo kaya siya naging ganyan?”

(Ate Chelle, what do you think? Like what [clinical psychologist Dawn Dela Cruz] said earlier, that of course spouses have their shortcomings, what do you think were your shortcomings for him to act that way?)

“Wala naman po kasi iniisip ko baka kulang po iyong sa pagkabinata po niya, parang di pa tapos… di pa po siya sawa.”

(Nothing, I think maybe he is not done with his adolescence, as if he is not done with it yet… he has not yet gotten his fill of it.)

A Twitter user, one @meriel676, posted yesterday the video of Richards’ question, which has since gone viral, and asked, “[Isn’t] this lowkey victim blaming? [The] way [Alden] asked the question doesn’t sit with me well. [Can] we ever get to justify violence, more importantly, domestic violence???”

https://twitter.com/meriel676/status/1347782656268791813?s=20

Some defended Richards, saying he was merely asking a question. Others called him “insensitive,” explaining that if the contestant gave a reason, it would appear that she deserved it.

“There is no justifiable and valid reason for domestic violence. Therefore, asking the victim why they think they’re being subjected to said violence is, not just irrelevant, but insensitive and inherently problematic as well,” explained one @kingofmeereen.

There is no justifiable and valid reason for domestic violence. Therefore, asking the victim why they think they’re being subjected to said violence is, not just irrelevant, but insensitive and inherently problematic as well.

— 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙤𝙝! (@kingofmeereen) January 9, 2021

Richards, as he asked the question, may have referred to Dela Cruz’s advice earlier in the show, when host Vic Sotto asked about victims seeking professional help. Dela Cruz gave advice on professional help not only for abuse victims but to anyone who wanted to address relationship issues.

“[Seeking professional help] is good for abused women and kahit naman sa normal na tao lang. Kahit doon sa gustong maayos iyong relationship nila, mayroon tayong marriage counseling, mayroon tayong individual therapy kasi not most of the time naman ibe-blame natin sa partner ang pagkukulang. Let’s admit na mayroon at mayroon din tayong mga pagkukulang and we can do something about it like individual therapy. Let’s normalize asking professional help from mental health professionals,” she said.

([Seeking professional help] is good for abused women and even normal people. Even for those who want to fix their relationship, we have marriage counseling, we have individual therapy, because not most of the time, we can blame our partners. Let’s admit that we also have our own shortcomings and we can do something about it like individual therapy. Let’s normalize asking professional help from mental health professionals.)

Meanwhile, fans continue to express support for their idol, stating that he may be imperfect but he is a “good man.”

“At the end of the day, @aldenrichards02 has a heart that is compassionate, loving and kind. No amount of judgment from other people will change my view of him as a person. Alden is not perfect but he is a good man with a beautiful soul,” said one @panotsha.

Richards has yet to comment on the issue, as of writing. JB

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