When the Vice Ganda-Jessica Soho controversy erupted, my initial thought was that it was just another case of celebrity quarrel and drama. It wasn’t until I read Ma. Ceres Doyo’s column (“Sue Vice Ganda,” Opinion, Inquirer, 5/30/13) that I felt compelled to watch the video of the incident myself.
I was shocked! How can someone be so insensitive?! That’s when I realized that Vice Ganda’s apology on television was not even an apology. It was arrogant and proud. He brushed off Jessica’s and the public’s reaction as a matter of difference in opinion—that what some people may find funny, others may consider insulting. He did not even for a second tried to reflect on what he did, the reason he didn’t realize that his jokes were indeed insensitive.
His intentions may not have been malicious, or so he claims, but his actions were definitely obtuse. I am a firm believer in peaceful means of reconciliation and I believe in avoiding litigation as much as possible. However in this instance, I see the gravity of the case and I totally see the justice in Vice Ganda being sued for oral defamation.
I also think it is proper and just to sue him for plagiarism as well. His weighing-scale jokes weren’t even original. Those were echoes from a lesser known comic I remember seeing perform at a competition in the late night comedy variety show “Banana Split.” Unlike Vice, that comic delivered his spiel with elegance—he poked fun at himself for being a little on the heavy side.
That moment, I thought the jokes were funny and clever. The second time around, however, I found them to be disgusting, inappropriate and outright insulting. True artists always practice their craft within proper ethical parameters.
—LLOYD E. REYES,
lloydereyes@gmail.com