In case you've been living under a rock, KathNiel has officially confirmed their breakup. It's the end of an era, and understandably so, we're all having a mental breakdown. But as much as we'd love to join everyone in shedding a collective tear or two, we're forced to momentarily hit the pause button to address a backward mindset that should've been tossed into the archives a long time ago.
Mere days after Cristy Fermin's homophobic tirades against Vice Ganda, the entertainment columnist has launched yet another attack—this time, blatantly body-shaming Kathryn Bernardo in a slew of comments that are fodder for tabloids. Unapologetically comparing her to Andrea Brillantes, who's rumored to be the third party behind Kathryn's controversial split with Daniel Padilla, the host and her colleagues did not mince words while disparaging the actress in a recent episode of their YouTube channel, Showbiz Now Na.
"Pero [kung] postura at postura, talagang may ilalaban ‘yung Andrea. Wala talagang binatbat si Kathryn," Cristy Fermin brashly tells her co-hosts, reacting to their equally unsavory comments used against the A Very Good Girl star. Words like "flat-chested" and "dry skin" were thrown around, before punctuating things by saying that Kathryn's lips aren't nearly as pouty as Andrea's. "Tanggapin natin ang katotohanan. Paglakad, pagrampa? Lalong wala, ‘di ba? Model-model talaga si Andrea. Hindi siya pupuwedeng mapintasan sa ganoon... Kung pintas at pintas ang paiiralin, maraming pwede ibato kay Kathryn."
As I watched with my palm over my face, I truly wished the conversation ended there. Unfortunately, Cristy and her co-hosts continued to tread the dangerous path. After lambasting Kathryn's sense of style (with one of them insisting that she dresses like a "nanay"), they proceeded to judge other female celebrities in the same breath, dropping names and rating them according to their physical attributes. Marian Rivera and Maine Mendoza were among the random casualties, as well as sisters Kristine and Kathleen Hermosa, who they couldn't help but pit against each other in another contest of good looks while they let out sinister laughters in unison.
Ironically, in their show's intro, the hosts claimed that they don't touch on rumors unless they have evidence or "receipts." Their opinionated commentary, however, is anything but objective—it reeks of bias, it's groundless, and it's completely uncalled for. Walang dibdib. Pang manang ang mga damit. Walang binatbat. Slanderous statements like these not only compromise their own credibility as media personalities but also foster an environment where sensationalism overshadows substance and personal biases take precedence over responsible journalism, which was conspicuously absent in their reporting.
It's utterly disappointing and alarming to hear such troubling remarks from a presumed industry veteran whose career spans decades. One would expect a seasoned professional to wield their influence responsibly, especially in a society that should be evolving towards more enlightened and progressive discourse. Instead, Cristy Fermin and her colleagues chose words that recycle age-old stereotypes and reinforce the problematic notion that a woman's value is intrinsically tied to her looks. Beyond salacious gossip, these perpetuate damaging beauty standards.
Young girls, in their formative years, absorb these dangerous narratives like a sponge, leading them to believe that their worth is tethered to external and superficial standards. It breeds insecurity. It fuels unhealthy competition. It reduces women to a single, superficial metric promoting regressive ideals that we should be moving past.
In the age of social media, where information travels at the speed of a click and influence is a currency wielded by those with a platform, the responsibility to be mindful and conscientious about everything we say is paramount. Especially when it comes to matters that can shape the perceptions of a young mind, we need to be wary of the gravity of our words. Cristy Fermin's statement, which inadvertently contributes to a culture that pits women against each other, sends a dangerous message to young girls everywhere who are still in the process of understanding themselves and their place in the world.
As a woman myself, I dream of a world free from judgment. I dream of a future where we're not subjected to superficial comparisons but rather celebrated for our individual strengths, where we're not constantly pitted against each other, and where our worth isn't simply reduced to how we look. Looking around, it inspires me to find women (and men) who boldly reject regressive ideals and use their influence to impact the next generation positively. I've been seeing hope in the faces of women who lift each other up, in our strong female leaders, and in inspiring personalities who harness their platform responsibly. Just now, I saw it in a woman who chose to be kind and magnanimous as she closed the final chapter of an 11-year relationship.
It's a beautiful dream, and then the sound of Cristy Fermin's insidious laughter jolts me awake—and once again I'm reminded that we still have a long way to go.
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About the author
Marj Ramos-Clemente is the Editor-in-Chief of Preview and the Head of Content for the Women's Titles in Summit Media.
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