Trigger warning: discussions of body dysmorphia
There's a clear line between constructive criticism and just plain rude comments. That's what Alexa Ilacad had to tell an Instagram user without holding anything back.
The 24-year-old actress made the most straightforward clapback to the commenter who said that something was "off" with her body. The comment read, "Ang ganda mo pero may something talaga sa katawan mo na mejo off."
Immediately, Alexa shut down the unsolicited remark. The Gen Z star schooled the IG user on why it's quite imperative for everyone to know that body shaming has no place in this day and age, especially on her IG account.
READ: Alexa Ilacad Responds to a Rude Netizen's Body-Shaming Comment
She strongly said, "2024 na pero hindi ka pa rin aware na our bodies come in different shapes, sizes, and proportions? I'd suggest you hit the books before making comments that are very... "off"."
If you think their online exchange ended at that point, sad to say, it didn't. The IG user was brave enough to strike back at Alexa. They stood by their statement, even telling Alexa to leave showbiz if she couldn't take the criticism. The clapback read, "2024 na mukhang ang gusto mo lang na comment ay 'yung hindi "off" para sayo? Dapat hindi ka nag-artista if you can't stomach the truth."
From there, Alexa seemed to know that the commenter had no intention of heeding or understanding even the slightest bit of what she was trying to impart. "What a dumb argument. Me being a celebrity doesn't give you a free pass to be rude [insert smiley face]," Alexa wrote in her final reply to the IG user.
It's not the first time that people from the Internet have thrown ill-mannered remarks against celebrities. Hurtful and rude comments come and go, and celebrities have to find their own ways to cope and get past them. Nonetheless, it's not a sign that these kinds of scenarios should be normalized in any way.
Alexa made it to a point to supplement her recent public exchange. She took a screenshot of the series of replies they did and posted it on her IG story. Then she proclaimed, "Last time I checked, ang trabaho ko po bilang artista ay umarte, kumanta, sumayaw minsan, at magpasaya ng tao. (Which I love doing)"
She added how she's very open to constructive criticisms as an actress. But anything way beyond constructive insights? Alexa won't be tolerating any of it. "Buuut it isn't part of my job description to tolerate rude comments like this. Constructive criticism-I accept with open heart, but this? Nah. Such a toxic mindset," the Kapamilya actress expressed.
Alexa Ilacad's Previous Clapbacks to Body-Shaming Comments
In an April 2023 Star Magic vlog, Alexa reacted to a comment that read, "Kaya ka nababastos kasi kabastos-bastos pananamit mo."
The Gen Z actress directly responded to the comment with, "No, kaya kami nababastos kasi bastos ka." Alexa conveyed her frustrations towards people who always have a problem with how other people dress. She sees it as "shallow thinking" to connect harassment to women's manner of dressing up for themselves.
"Napaka-shallow nung ganong thinking. Wala sa pananamit yung dahilan kung bakit nababastos ang mga tao, ang mga babae. Kaya nababastos ang mga babae, kasi may bastos. Yun lang yun. The fact na ginagawang excuse yung 'She's probably asking for it,' Grabe, hindi naturuan ng tama." Alexa proclaimed.
She added, "Bakit tayo nangingialam sa suot ng ibang tao? Hindi naman tayo ang nagpapakain sa kanila, hindi naman tayo ang bumili ng damit nila. Hindi naman ikakasira ng buhay mo kung nag two-piece sila. So why the violent reactions? Let them enjoy things."
In another interview, Alexa also disclosed that she has been struggling with body dysmorphic disorder, a mental health condition that negatively distorts how one perceives their physical appearance due to imagined or slight flaws.
*This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors
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