Benny Blanco draws flak after mocking Filipino fast food meals

Benny Blanco. Images: Screengrabs from Tiktok/@itsbennyblanco

Benny Blanco — a music producer who went public with his relationship with Selena Gomez in December 2023 — came under fire after he dissed the food products of a local fast food chain, particularly its “soggy” fried chicken and “limp” fries served in the United States.

In a video uploaded on his Tiktok account on Friday, March 1, Blanco did a taste test of the fast food brand’s favorites such as the adobo rice, fried chicken, and french fries. But before he started the video, he noted that his stepmom comes from the Philippines which makes him familiar with Filipino cuisine.

“I ended up eating a sh*t ton of Filipino food… so let’s start with this dry*-ss adobo rice, it tastes like butt,” he said. “Let’s try some chicken dipped in gravy, okay. Alright. Let me tell you one thing, I think the gravy is tricking me because the chicken is not even that good. It’s kind of soggy as f***.”

@itsbennyblancomy first time trying jollibee♬ Little Things – Adrian Berenguer

Blanco also tried the pineapple juice, peach mango pie, spaghetti — to which he noted “smells like f***ing vomit,” and the “limp” french fries.

“I feel like that just ruined my night. Ew, [mentions brand name], ew,” he said. “All right, look at these limp, d*** *ass fries. I can’t I can’t even try this. Are you f**king kidding… you f***ed up with the spaghetti. You made my phone fall down. It’s good (the peach mango pie) but like, don’t go to [brand name]. This s*** sucks.”

The music producer’s video drew criticism from netizens in the comments, with some hoping that Filipino-American influencer Bretman Rock would “cuss him out.” Others wondered what Gomez saw in the music producer.

Image: Screengrabs from Tiktok/@itsbennyblanco

Image: Screengrabs from Tiktok/@itsbennyblanco

Image: Screengrabs from Tiktok/@itsbennyblanco

Following the backlash, Blanco uploaded a follow-up video of himself trying Filipino food from the “highest rated spots” in Los Angeles, California. He also tried a spicy chicken sandwich from the fast food chain, noting its branches in the location “suck.”

The video then showed the music producer running around while eating the chicken sandwich, appearing to show that it was indeed good. He also ate lumpiang shanghai, longganisa, and chicken adobo — before ending the clip by topping the chicken sandwich with lumpiang shanghai before eating them together in a bun.

“Look at this f****** thing… a word. That lumpia puts it right,” he said before admitting that he’s “so full.”

@itsbennyblancofilipino food take 2♬ Little Things – Adrian Berenguer

Blanco, however, seemingly didn’t try to redeem himself in the eyes of his Filipino followers as they remained critical of his follow-up video, with some noting that his efforts were “sarcastic” to appease the public.

Image: Screengrabs from Tiktok/@itsbennyblanco

Image: Screengrabs from Tiktok/@itsbennyblanco

Blanco and Gomez confirmed their relationship in December 2023, six months after they were speculated to be dating.

In the same month, Gomez shared a photo of herself in a passionate kiss with Blanco on Instagram, saying it was one of her “favorite moments” in her trip to New York.