American music producer Benny Blanco has sparked a wave of reactions from the Filipino community after sharing his first taste test of Jollibee, a fast-food chain in the Philippines, on TikTok.
Benny Blanco, who recently confirmed his relationship with pop star Selena Gomez, faced criticism for his less-than-flattering review of the food.
@itsbennyblanco my first time trying jollibee
♬ Little Things – Adrian Berenguer
In the controversial video, Blanco, whose stepmother is Filipino, sampled various offerings from Jollibee, including Jollibee’s famous Chickenjoy, spaghetti, adobo rice, and peach mango pie.
His comments ranged from calling the adobo rice “dry ass” and stating it “tastes like butt,” to claiming the spaghetti “smells like vomit” and expressing disappointment over the dryness of the chicken.
Only the peach mango pie seemed to earn his approval, albeit with a concluding remark advising his viewers to avoid Jollibee altogether.
The video quickly became a hot topic among Filipino TikTok users, with many expressing their displeasure and labeling Blanco’s comments as “disrespectful” towards a cherished national brand.
“You just made some enemies with that Jollibee disrespect,” one user commented, echoing the sentiments of many others who viewed his critique against Filipino cuisine.
However, not all reactions were negative. Some users came to Benny’s defense, suggesting that Jollibee’s offerings in the United States might differ in taste from those in the Philippines.
“Guys Jollibee here in the US [tastes] different. I respect his opinion and you guys [need] to calm down,” one comment read, urging for understanding and respect for individual taste preferences.
In an attempt to address the backlash and perhaps redeem his earlier review, Blanco posted a follow-up TikTok video where he tried Filipino dishes from highly-rated restaurants in Los Angeles.
@itsbennyblanco filipino food take 2
♬ Little Things – Adrian Berenguer
This time, his feedback was overwhelmingly positive, particularly praising a spicy chicken sandwich that made him “completely reverse” his opinion on Jollibee.
He also tasted other Filipino delicacies like lumpia, longganisa, chicken inasal, and pancit, receiving a warmer reception from viewers.
While some users acknowledged Benny’s effort to make amends, others remained unimpressed, suggesting that the damage to his reputation among Filipino fans was already done.
“The damage has been done,” a user remarked, though another playfully suggested, “Try balut and then we’ll forgive you,” referring to the Filipino delicacy.
Prior to Selena and Benny’s relationship, they co-wrote the song “I Can’t Get Enough” in March 2019 and later again for the latter’s song “Single Soon” in 2023. In December 2023, the pair made their relationship official.
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