American music producer Benny Blanco ignited the social media content creators’ firestorm with his controversial review of the popular Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee. 

The boyfriend of renowned American singer-actress Selena Gomez took to social media to express his disdain for various Jollibee food products available in the U.S., including adobo rice, fried chicken, French fries, and spaghetti.

Using explicit language, Benny described the food as tasting “like b*tt,” being “soggy as f*ck,” resembling “fckin’ vomit,” and having the texture of a “limp d*ck.” 

The review reached a personal level for many Filipinos, as Jollibee is a proudly celebrated brand and the first Filipino fast-food chain with a global presence.

In response to Benny’s critique, several content creators stepped up to defend Jollibee and address what they perceived as disrespectful commentary.

Asian-American digital creator Ed Choi provided a logical response, emphasizing the importance of tasting food when it’s fresh and not after it has been sitting for an extended period.

Ed Choi remarked in an Instagram post, “Opinions are different than being disrespectful, especially when you ate it when it’s clearly not even fresh anymore and was sitting in its own steam in the box for who knows how long.”

He further criticized Benny’s approach, stating, “To be honest, it’s not even about the disliking; it was about the disrespect, and then that being your whole personality that’s wild.”

Another Filipino content creator, Nurse John, who works as a nurse in the U.S., expressed his opinion on the matter through a TikTok video. 

@nurse.johnn

@benny blanco please don’t hate on him he’s human, he makes mistakes, he can learn from this. This is just an example of what not to do if you’re not part of within a culture. #nursejohnn #jollibee

♬ original sound – nurse.johnn

While acknowledging that everyone is entitled to their opinion, Nurse John highlighted the blatant disgust and disrespect Benny showed for Filipino culture.

Nurse John emphasized that having a stepmother who is Filipino does not give Benny the right to disrespect something deeply cherished by Filipinos. 

He also acknowledged the significance of Jollibee for many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), serving as a connection to home.

The controversy has sparked intense discussions among both Filipinos and foreigners, with some defending Benny’s right to express his opinion and others critiquing the disrespectful tone of his review. 

Source: (1), (2)

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