Zack Tabudlo speaks out on comments about his smell after Paskuhan performance

Some social media users, however, mocked his appearance and claimed that he had an unpleasant odor. While the comments appear to have been deleted, many fans quickly came to Tabudlo’s defense and reminded critics that sweating during live performances is natural and does not diminish his artistry.

"Guys, let’s spread kindness and be not so quick to judge, please. Mind you, performers sila sa stage with lots of lights and movement, so it’s normal lang to sweat. I also worked backstage nung paskuhan and let me tell you, si Zack ang pinakamabango," one user said.

Another commented, "My gosh, stop with all these comments because it's already affecting the artist. As someone who was on the barricade at that time, I can really attest that he smells good! Let's all focus our attention on how good of a performer he is, because that's what he's there for."

@ustigeradio We are now caught in the Zack Tabudlo loop! Thomasians sing their hearts out together with Zack Tabudlo for the Paskuhan Concert! #USTPaskuhanConcert2025 #USTPaskuhan2025 #ust #zacktabudlo #thomasian ♬ Pano - Zack Tabudlo

Tabudlo has since gotten wind of the criticisms and posted a video on his TikTok account addressing the bullying.

"There's this video that's trending of me being super sweaty. I fitted a gray shirt and I was just sweating so much because I was performing on stage. I was jumping, and it was noontime and all that," he said.

He noted that there were certain comments in that video regarding his scent, appearance, and weight, describing the statements as "very bad."

"I've been in the industry for a while that I've gone through so much rumors and so much issues that it numbs you[.] You get to a certain point where you see these comments, it sucks, but at the same time, you're like, 'Damn, people don't change,'" Tabudlo said.

He lamented how he has been dragged around through a lot of issues over the years and painted on social media as a "smelly, ugly kid who has an attitude, who's always late, who doesn't dress good, and can't sing."

"Which is crazy to compare if you talk to people who are with me, who I love behind closed doors, who are my friends in the industry, the biggest names in the industry that you guys know, and my family, and my partner," he said.

"I think the past few years have been super rough. And I would make myself as an example because I started off with these songs like Nangangamba and Binibini, and I think it just sucks how this image of what social media made me became the stereotype that you guys know me of now," he continued.

@zack.tabudlo

please spread kindness. 🫶🏻

♬ original sound - Zack Tabudlo

Tabudlo further expressed sadness about how all the dreams he has worked on as an artist appear as "secondary."

"Social media has become this scary place where you can't express yourself, your freedom of art, your craft, your music, your fashion, because with one comment that blows up, you're now painted as this person," he said.

"Guys, we're all human. We're all human at the end of the day. Lahat tayo tumatae, lahat tayo pinagpapawisan, lahat tayo nagkakamali sa buhay. And being nice isn't the hardest thing to do [...] Be nice, guys," he ended.

Tabudlo started his music career when he competed on the first season of The Voice Kids under Bamboo Mañalac's mentorship. He rose to fame through his songs Nangangamba in 2020 and Binibini in 2021.