Earlier this week, Filipino boxer, senator, and — er — singer Manny Pacquiao was criticized on social media for commenting on an Instagram Live video of 22-year-old social media personality Arzaylea Rodriguez.
Screenshots of the video show Pacquiao saying “Hello!” and “Where are you from?” And it wasn’t a misstep by his social media team; Pacquiao on Wednesday admitted that it was him who posted the comment but that Rodriguez started the conversation.
“She said, oh Manny Pacquaio, hi, hello. So I said hello. Hopefully, the video hasn’t been erased so things can be cleared up. Then she said, she asked me if I was in the Philippines. I said I’m here and where are you from?” Pacquiao told reporters.
But yesterday, Rodriguez said that this was not true. Replying to a tweet by ABS-CBN News, she said that it was Pacquiao that initiated the conversation.
“He came into my Instagram Live very unexpectedly,” Rodriguez said. “I definitely didn’t engage in conversation with him first.”
https://twitter.com/Arzaylea/status/913335817875087360
Apparently, Pacquiao is in the habit of watching and commenting on Instagram Live videos. His post on a video by Maria Ciuffo, a host for the online sports show Chicks in the Office was also made public.
Ciuffo tweeted screenshots of Pacquiao saying “hello” and “yes its me thank you” last week.
MANNY PACQUIAO IS IN MY INSTAGRAM LIVE pic.twitter.com/xkwJbqWPAK
— Ria (@BarstoolRia) September 21, 2017
A screenshot posted on the Chicks in the Office Instagram also shows Pacquiao saying “You can call me anytime.” He explained that this was in response to an interview request by the sports website.
There is no way to know what really happened in both instances because unlike Facebook Live, Instagram Live videos are not saved on a user’s profile. They can be saved by the user but it will only appear on their Instagram Stories for 24 hours.
Connie King says
Nothing wrong with talking to another person. “Team Pacquiao.”