Miles Ocampo defends Joey de Leon after ‘pataba’ remark in ‘Eat Bulaga’

(From left) Miles Ocampo and Joey de Leon. Images: Instagram/@milesocampo, @angpoetnyo

Miles Ocampo defended her “Eat Bulaga” co-host, Joey de Leon, more than a month after the latter was accused of “bodyshaming” the actress with his “pataba” remark during her birthday celebration on the noontime show.

De Leon last May jokingly referred to the actress’ age as “pataba,” or getting fatter, a remark that earned the ire of some netizens, who found it as something to hit him with on social media.

But on the sidelines of the media conference for her new TV series, “Padyak Princess,” Ocampo told reporters that she wasn’t offended by de Leon’s remarks, and that the veteran comedian even apologized to her immediately the following day.

“Si Boss Joey at ang Dabarkads, updated sila sa lahat. Noong lumabas ang issue, updated siya agad. So the next day, [lumapit] siya sa’kin at sabi, ‘Huy, sorry ah.’ Sabi ko, ‘okay lang po, Boss Joey.’ Sa’min, wala lang ‘yun,” she said.

(Boss Joey and the Dabarkads are updated with everything. When the issue broke out, he was updated right away. So the next day, he approached me and said, “Hey, I’m sorry.” I said, “It’s okay, Boss Joey.” For us, it’s nothing.)

The actress noted that not many people are used to how the cast of “Eat Bulaga” express their love toward each other, which is through banter.

“Hindi lang siguro sanay ang mga tao,” she said. “Ilang taon na rin ang ‘Eat Bulaga’ at alam na rin nila na ang biruan at tawanan ang pagpapakita [namin] ng pagmamahal. Madalas ang asaran ay pag-show ng love sa isa’t isa.”

(Perhaps not many people are used to it. “Eat Bulaga” has been around for many years and they know that we show love through teasing each other and laughing. We always tease each other to show love.)

WATCH: Miles Ocampo comes to the defense of her “Eat Bulaga” co-host Joey de Leon, weeks after the latter was accused of “bodyshaming” Ocampo at one of the noontime show’s episodes last May. ⁦

Ocampo says de Leon apologized to her immediately and that the noontime show’s cast… pic.twitter.com/3g2ByOcoM7

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 5, 2024

‘Bawal ang pikon’

Ocampo also added that no one in the “Eat Bulaga” is allowed to be “short-tempered,” saying everyone is used to bandying jokes at each other.

“Sa Dabarkads, bawal ang pikon d’un. Sanay lang kami sa bawat banat at hirit ng isa’t isa, so walang problema,” she said at the media con. “Actually si Boss Joey, naapektuhan din kasi sabi niya n’un, ‘Bakit galit ‘yung mga tao sa akin?’”

“Sabi ko kay Boss Joey, ‘okay na po ‘yun, sadyang ang mga tao talaga ngayon ay makabilis makahanap ng mali kaya napupuna agad.’ Pero wala po [talagang] problema,” she further added.

(No one is allowed to be short-tempered among the Dabarkads. We’re used to each other’s jokes and playful remarks so there’s no problem. Boss Joey was actually affected by the backlash because he said, “Why are people angry at me?” I told him, “It’s okay.” Everyone these days is quick to point at others’ mistakes. But there is no problem with it.)

The actress then cited her battle with papillary thyroid cancer as the reason for her weight gain in April 2023.
Health journals have attributed weight gain to low levels of thyroid hormones.

Ocampo is set to headline the upcoming series “Padyak Princess” on TV5. She is joined by Joao Constancia, Jameson Blake, Kira Balinger, Ara Mina, and Christian Vasquez, to name a few.

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