Anthony Taberna became a topic of discussion this week because of a victim-blaming comment he made on Umagang Kay Ganda. He stated that a 19-year-old woman was at fault for meeting up with someone she’d met on social media. That if she hadn’t done that, she wouldn’t have been gang-raped.
Amid all the backlash, several netizens and viewers also called on to Umagang Kay Ganda to remove the newscaster. Women’s rights activist Jean Enriquez shared her sentiments on Facebook and said, “We don’t need sexist media persons in this day and age of #MeToo. I have had enough of over-confident commentators shaping public opinion and reinforcing deeply biased, ignorant perspectives. Require that sociology courses be taken by media persons.”
Although the show had talked to Anthony about the incident, they didn’t fire him. He instead gave an apology on live television. He said that he didn’t mean to blame the victim for what happened and that it was only a “reminder” that was misinterpreted. “Kailanman po ay hindi ko kakampihan ang mga demonyong ito. Subalit alam ko rin na merong mga hindi nagustuhan ang aking komento at ang aking paalaala, ipinalagay na paninisi sa biktima. Hindi po yun ang aking intensiyon. Nais ko rin pong sabihin na hindi ko sinisisi ang biktima sa nangyari. Dapat pong panagutin sa batas ang mga kriminal.” (Never will I take the side of these demons. But I am aware that there are those who did not like my comment and my reminder, misinterpreted as victim-blaming. That was not my intention. I want to say that I am not blaming the victim on what happened. The criminal should be punished by law.)
Anthony ended his apology with a promise that he’ll be more careful next time. Meanwhile, several people are naturally still angry even after the fact. A reminder? You don’t need to tell women to be careful. Tell men not to rape or sexually assault others.
But we want to ask Umagang Kay Ganda: What now? Are you simply tolerating such actions or are you going to do something about it? Because the last thing that anyone wants is to have people on TV who mask their sexism and misogyny in the guise of well-meaning intentions. Believe us, we’re just as tired of newscasters and hosts who blame the victims, among other faults, while millions watch them.
Art by Lara Intong
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