Heart Evangelista and her dog Panda | Image: Instagram/@iamhearte
Fashion icon Heart Evangelista recently adorned her pet aspin (or asong Pinoy) a diamond-encrusted neckpiece from a luxury brand worth P11-million, a move that some followers claimed sent an insensitive and “tone deaf” message to the public.
In an Instagram live over the weekend, Evangelista addressed the criticism and defended herself by saying that as owner of the necklace, she could do anything with it — even if it’s her dog Panda that wears it.
“I own the necklace, you know. I can do whatever I want, then pull it out. Basically, Panda owns the necklace. So, hindi siya loan (it’s not a loan). So, she can do whatever she wants with it,” stressed the actress.
Panda’s viral photo inspired an online trend with pet owners dressing their dogs and cats with expensive jewelry with the hashtag “Heart Made Me Do It.”
Image: Instagram story / Heart Evangelista
Image: Instagram story/@iamhearte
However, most netizens took to social media, specifically X (formerly Twitter), to call out the Kapuso actress over her actions, which they deemed to be a form of “disrespect” towards some artists’ craftsmanship and showcasing an “out-of-touch” attitude, considering her and her husband’s social position.
Image: Instagram/@iamhearte
Senate President Chiz Escudero, Evangelista’s husband, used to be a congressman, then governor, of Sorsogon, which serves as his family’s political bulwark. On the other hand, Evangelista now serves as the president of the Senate Spouses of the Philippines, Inc., a non-profit organization composed of senators’ spouses which engages in charitable works and other socio-civic activities.
“You’re seriously acting like a poor little rich girl. If you’ve got an P11.9 million necklace, maybe don’t let a dog wear it and show it off on social media. It just sends a really tone-deaf message, especially since your husband has a prominent role in society and his family has served Sorsogon for years, which NEDA called one of the most depressed provinces in the country back in ’98, with a poverty rate of 54.5%, malnutrition at 52%, an unemployment rate of 40.2%, and a super low average monthly income of just P4,397,” lamented one netizen.
Image: X
“Who cares if she owns that necklace? The point is the impropriety and callousness of the act. The insensitivity on her part is just appalling considering her position as head of senate spouses and her husband as senate president,” pitched another netizen.
Image: X
Other netizens also claimed Evangelista was seemingly throwing shade at 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, who was recently announced as the new ambassador of the necklace’s brand and who was also seen wearing the same jewelry piece.
“It’s not a good look kay heart. Obviously, she’s bragging, kasi for sure yung kay Pia is borrowed for the shoot. Her saying I own it and I can do anything with it is so unbecoming of a politician’s wife,” said one X user.
Image: X
Evangelista and Wurtzbach are reportedly engaged in a “cold war” after the latter hired the former’s glam team, which the latter allegedly sacked. Evangelista was also in recent weeks accused certain individuals of stealing her fashion week contacts.
In Heart Evangelista’s defense
Evangelista’s fans, meanwhile, came to her defense, saying the actress has been known as a furmom who splurges on her pet animals by dressing them up with luxurious accessories and clothes.
Image: Instagram/@iamhearte