Ogie Diaz admits ‘guilt’ over endorsing online gambling
Ogie Diaz addressed the backlash against celebrities promoting online gambling and admitted that he, too, was “guilty” of endorsing such platforms.
Diaz spoke about this through his “Showbiz Update” YouTube vlog on Tuesday, July 21. The topic was brought up as he and his fellow vlog hosts including Loi Villarama discussed the criticism toward Ivana Alawi and her phone giveaway linked to an online gambling platform she endorses.
“Iba-iba ‘yung opinyon ng tao tungkol d’yan. Kung ‘di ka responsable sa lahat ng ginagawa mo, kung wala kang kontrol ay talagang maaadik ka,” Diaz said of online gambling.
“Ako, sa totoo lang, nakapag-endorse din naman ako once upon a time. Guilty ako d’yan,” he continued. “Pero mula noon, ayoko na. Ang hirap i-endorse nung isang bagay na hindi mo naman ginagawa.”
READ: Ivana Alawi marks 50 million followers with new giveaway amid backlash
Diaz stressed that most celebrity endorsers do not actually use online gambling platforms, and that brands are only using the latter’s influence to entice more players.
“Lalong maraming naghihirap na taong bayan,” he said. “Kaya ako, personally, inaask ulit na mag-endorse pero sabi ko ayoko na, kasi nakaka-guilty talaga.”
“Una, nagi-guilty ka kasi marami kang nahihikayat lalo na ‘yung mga naniniwala sa’yo… Pangalawa, hindi naman talaga ako sugarol. Hindi naman talaga ako gumagamit no’n,” he added.
Diaz nonetheless defended his fellow celebrities, reminding the public that they have the “choice” of whether to engage with online gambling platforms.
“Nasa’yo ang puso mo, katawan mo, desisyon mo, choice mo,” he emphasized. /edv
