Lea Salonga has been front and center in many online controversies. But the Broadway star, who frequently posts progressive views on Twitter, seems like she’s getting exhausted by all the drama.
Yesterday she told vociferous government critic Ogie Rosa how she feels like her comments on the internet have been selectively picked on by critics.
The exchange started when Rosa tweeted: “Lea Salonga defends Aga: It is our right and duty to criticize our leaders. She doesn’t want to talk about inflation but ‘it’s our duty to criticize’ when it comes to Trillanes? Seriously, what is happening to you @MsLeaSalonga?”
Lea Salonga defends Aga: It is our right and duty to criticize our leaders.
Ayaw magsalita tungkol sa inflation pero “it’s our duty to criticize” pagdating kay Trillanes? Seriously, what is happening to you, @MsLeaSalonga?
— Ogie Rosa (@ogie_rosa) October 24, 2018
Rosa is referring to how Salonga defended her friend, actor Aga Muhlach after the latter blasted opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and told him that he should just help President Rodrigo Duterte.
Needless to say, Muhlach didn’t get a lot of respect from pro-Trillanes netizens.
In a comment that appeared on talent manager Ogie Diaz’s Facebook account, Salonga said that as a democracy, we have the right to criticize our leaders. But her post did not sit well with some netizens because, well, democracy also means criticizing Muhlach.
Rosa also brought up Salonga’s controversial statement about the country’s inflation rate. Salonga was blasted earlier this month after saying in an interview that people who didn’t complain about inflation before Duterte’s administration should rethink why they’re complaining about it now.
Naturally, she didn’t earn a lot of fans for saying that.
Salonga responded to Rosa’s tweet and wrote: “Apparently the internet is also selective in which posts of mine to highlight. Sen. Trillanes has every right to criticize, too. It’s his job. And it’s great that he is as outspoken as he is. But by the same token, he needs to be open to criticism from others, too.”
Apparently the internet is also selective in which posts of mine to highlight. Sen. Trillanes has every right to criticize, too. It’s his job. And it’s great that he is as outspoken as he is. But by the same token, he needs to be open to criticism from others, too.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) October 24, 2018
Rosa then highlighted what she thinks are inconsistencies in Salonga’s statements.
He wrote: “Thanks for replying, Lea. A big fan here but I’m not sure how you can defend Aga and say Trillanes has every right to criticize [other people], too. It’s conflicting considering that Aga clearly wanted Trillanes to stop criticizing Pduts (Duterte) and ‘to just help.'”
Thanks for replying, Lea. A big fan here but I’m not sure how you can defend Aga and say Trillanes has every right to criticize, too. It’s conflicting considering that Aga clearly wanted Trillanes to stop criticizing Pduts at “tumulong na lang.”
— Ogie Rosa (@ogie_rosa) October 24, 2018
Salonga didn’t respond to Rosa’s comment and ended up getting the brunt of his supporters’ criticisms.
@annemolina wrote to Salonga and told her to tell Muhlach that Trillanes has the right to criticize Duterte because the country is a democracy.
@MsLeaSalonga exactly! so tell that to your friend Aga, and let @TrillanesSonny do his work and say his piece! works both you ways right? we are still a democracy, correct?
— Ms. A (@annemolina) October 24, 2018
@MaamSyj thinks that Salonga might have an upcoming movie with Muhlach to explain why she continues to defend him.
They were a love team. There could be a comeback film.
— Ma’amSyj🇵🇭 (@MaamSyj) October 24, 2018
@TyroneJ79611610, obviously a Trillanes fan judging by his profile photo, called for a boycott of EastWest Bank which Salonga endorses.
Strike where it hurts. Boycott the endorsed, @eastwestbanker .
— Tyrone Jones (@TyroneJ79611610) October 24, 2018
@lamighangin wrote to Lea: “So how long before we hear you and Aga criticize the incumbent president? Why did you become like this when you became older?”
So how long before we hear you and Aga criticize the incumbent president?
Bakit kung kailan pa tumanda tsaka nagkakaganito?— B🌀rth☁l💨m⚡w (@lamighangin) October 24, 2018
Despite her “woke” views, Salonga earned a slew of criticisms when a private Facebook conversation surfaced where she wrote that the Marcoses have been good to her and her family.
However, she later tweeted that she does not doubt the experiences of those who suffered during dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law.
