Joey de Leon. Image: Instagram/@angpoetnyo
“Eat Bulaga” host Joey de Leon set the record straight after some netizens apparently assumed that his and Tito Sotto’s recent fiery remarks were aimed at their noontime show counterpart “It’s Showtime.”
“Ito’y para lang matapos ‘yung mga usap-usapan—unang-una, hindi namin kaaway ‘yung ‘Showtime,'” De Leon said in a video shared on his Instagram page on Friday, April 19. “‘Yung ‘Showtime,’ matagal na namin kapitbahay ‘yon. Hindi rin [nila] kami tinitira, hindi rin namin sila tinitira.”
(This is to stop the rumors—first of all, we do not have bad blood with “It’s Showtime.” “It’s Showtime” has been our neighbor for years. They are not attacking us, and vice versa.)
“Ang pinapatungkulan namin ni Tito nung nagalit kami sa ‘Eat Bulaga’ ay ‘yung mga social media na nagpo-post, ‘yung mga nagpo-programa,” he clarified. “Kaya hinamon ko [kung] tatagal nang 15 years ‘yung mga nagpo-post na ‘yon, hindi ‘yung ‘Showtime.'”
(When Tito and I addressed the rumors in “Eat Bulaga,” our statements were aimed at those who post, have programs on social media. It was them who I challenged to reach 15 years, and not “It’s Showtime.”)
De Leon then greeted the cast of ABS-CBN noontime show, which is set to celebrate its 15th anniversary in October.
“15 years na nga ‘yung ‘Showtime.’ Bakit ko hahamunin yon?” he continued. (“It’s Showtime” is already in its 15th year. Why would I dare them?)
“Mahal namin ang ‘Showtime’ dahil kasabayan namin [sila]. Da-dalawa na lang kami, ‘wag niyo kaming pagsabungin,” he appealed. “Magkakaibigan din kami.”
(We love “It’s Showtime” because we have been counterparts in the noontime slot. Only the two of us were left, so please do not pit us against each other. We are all friends.)
De Leon lamented how some people seemingly wanted “Eat Bulaga” to go off-air despite it being the longest-running noontime show in the country.
He then noted that the achievement of the program as one of the longest-running shows worldwide is also a win for the Filipino viewers. “Kasama kayo do’n sa honor na ‘yon.”
“Inuulit namin na ‘yung galit at sama ng loob namin ni Tito at ng mga Dabarkads ay do’n sa mga nagpo-post na hindi free TV… ‘Yung mag salbahe do’n [sa social media]. Talagang luluhod ako, didipa pa ako kung maka-fifteen years ‘yung mga sinungaling na ‘yon,” he stressed.
(I repeat, our ill feelings are aimed toward the bad people who are on social media and not on free TV. I will kneel before them with both my arms outstretched if their programs reach 15 years.)
“Pero ‘yung ‘Showtime,’ we love you. Hindi kami magkaaway at nagtatrabaho lang kami,” he reiterated. (“It’s Showtime,” we love you. We are not fighting, and we are all just doing our job.)
De Leon and Sotto’s earlier remarks were a response to rumors that “Eat Bulaga” would go off-air due to financial struggles.
Aside from their statement, Sotto announced that their camp would release a copy of the show’s income tax to further dismiss the bankruptcy rumors.