GMA Network senior vice president for programming, talent management, worldwide, and support group Annette Gozon-Valdes has spoken out in defense of actress and former Pinoy Big Brother alum Shuvee Etrata, who has faced heavy criticism online following the circulation of an old video where she appeared sympathetic toward former president Rodrigo Duterte.
In the video clip from a TikTok live last March, Etrata told her viewers: “Naiiyak talaga ako kay [PRRD]. Kasi sa lugar namin, ang laki ng naitulong ni PRRD, especially when it comes to drugs. Ewan ko lang sa inyo, pero nagpapasalamat talaga ako kay Duterte.” The clip resurfaced recently and drew flak from netizens who disagreed.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Gozon-Valdes stressed that Etrata has been “unfairly attacked” on social media and said she is “ready to offer [her] support” not only to Etrata but to any artist or friend who experiences unwarranted public backlash.
“Please allow me to clarify an article going around… I am ready to offer my support to Shuvee, any of our artists, or any of my friends when they are wrongfully and unfairly attacked,” Gozon-Valdes wrote on Facebook.
The Kapuso executive emphasized that Etrata is not a “die-hard” supporter of any politician. Instead, she described Etrata’s remarks as personal observations drawn from her own experiences.
“Shuvee is not ‘die-hard’ for any politician. She has had very, very few (and short) posts that have political color in the past. She gave her personal observation and opinions on what she believed to be good acts and bad acts done by the [government],” Gozon-Valdes explained.
She added that if Etrata personally saw positive changes in her community — such as the reduction of drug-related issues — then her views should be respected, just as her stand against the ABS-CBN shutdown should also be acknowledged.
Gozon-Valdes’ statement highlights the ongoing tensions between public figures, political discourse, and the unforgiving nature of social media, where resurfaced posts and comments often spark polarizing debates.
Leave a comment