Brenda Mage (L) and Eian Rances. Image: Instagram/@pbbabscbntv
“Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Brenda Mage is being criticized for sexual harassment after he asked an inappropriate question to his fellow contestant Eian Rances in the reality TV show.
The comedian asked Rances what he would do in a hypothetical situation where they are both drunk and he wakes up to Mage touching him. The exchange is seen in a video shared by TikTok user @jairusmartin08 which has gone viral in Twitter. The video showed part of a Kumu live stream of the reality TV show.
While Mage did not go into specifics, netizens inferred that the two may be talking about Mage touching Rances’ private part.
“Paano kapag nag-inuman tayo tapos paggising mo, hawak ko na, lasing ka? Tuloy o tigil?” Mage asked Rances multiple times. (What if we were drunk and when you wake up, I’m already touching it? Do I continue or stop?)
Rances can be seen scratching his head at the question and telling Mage, “Huwag kang ganu’n, masama ‘yun. Hindi lang sa akin, huwag mong gagawin ‘yun.” (Don’t be like that, that’s bad. Not just with me, don’t do it.)
@jayii_martin #brendamage #pbbconnect #pbbcelebrityedition #pbbkumunect #pbbhousemates
Mage drew flak from netizens on Twitter, who also called for his eviction from the “Pinoy Big Brother” house.
For one @acegomez_, the interaction between the two housemates was “wrong in so many levels,” as he noted that Rances looked “uncomfortable” in the video.
“Brenda’s ‘hypothetical question’ implies sexual harassment. ‘Hawak ko na’ dahil ‘na-carried away kasi lasing’ is predatory behavior by using alcohol as an excuse,” he said. (“I’m already touching it” because “I got carried away because I’m drunk” is predatory behavior by using alcohol as an excuse.)
This is so wrong in so many levels???
1) Eian really looks uncomfortable with the skinship Brenda's doing
2) Brenda's "hypothetical question" implies sexual harassment
3) "Hawak ko na" dahil "na carried away kasi lasing" is predatory behavior by using alcohol as an excuse https://t.co/xcmTTOYoHZ— ac (@acegomez_) October 23, 2021
Another netizen, @callmeTonite_k, called Mage a “shame” to the LGBTQ+ community. He also expressed concern that Mage might harass Rances.
“I wonder bakit wala pang action si Kuya dito. Alarming,” he lamented. “[Pinoy Big Brother], wala naman sanang favoritism.”
(I wonder why Big Brother still doesn’t have any action regarding this. Alarming. “Pinoy Big Brother,” I hope you’re not showing favoritism.)
I wonder bakit wala pang action si Kuya dito. Alarming. Dapat force evict na’to agad-agad. Eww ka Brenda halata masyadong uncomfy na si Eian sa’yo. Kahihiyan ka sa LGBTQ+ community. @PBBabscbn wala naman sanang favoritism. Baka di yan makapagpigil, gapangin pa si Eian. https://t.co/VoRknD6mBA
— ⚜️Lui H. Pio⚜️ (@Halimuyak1991) October 25, 2021
Meanwhile, one @BoomerangManila recalled when “Pinoy Big Brother” force-evicted its former housemate Banjo Dangalan in 2019 after he made a series of rape jokes.
“Banjo was evicted because he made some rape jokes. Brenda asking Eian ‘pag gising mo hawak ko na, ano gagawin mo?’ means without consent,” he pointed out. “Nakaka trigger to sa mga victims of sexual assaults. [Pinoy Big Brother], hahayaan niyo lang?”
(Brenda asking Eian, “When you wake up and I’m already touching it, what would you do?” means without consent. This could trigger victims of sexual assault. Pinoy Big Brother, would you just let this happen?)
https://twitter.com/BoomerangManila/status/1452242261253648390
Rances and Mage were part of the third batch of housemates to be introduced in the celebrity edition of “Pinoy Big Brother.” Other housemates include volleyball star Alyssa Valdez, internet personality Madam Inutz, beauty queen Samantha Bernardo and actress Alexa Ilacad. JB
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