Emmanuelle Atienza draws flak following statement on viral 'Guess the Bill' video
Emmanuelle Atienza, the youngest daughter of TV host Kim Atienza, continues to receive online backlash after airing her sentiment on the viral "Guess the Bill" challenge.
The 18-year-old fashion model took to her TikTok account to clarify that the viral challenge she did at a dinner with Miss World Philippines 2024 Krishnah Gravidez and other friends was a joke and that they didn't pay for that "outrageously high number."
She went on to express her opinion about a post from a local media outlet that said she should check her privilege.
"First of all, I've been so honest about the privileges I've been given and the privilege that I have in my life," she said, adding that she never denies the privileges she has and is very open about the fact that she is a "nepo baby."
"For example, on my podcast with Kush, I've mentioned that I'm not one to deny the privilege I've been given. And on top of that, I'm also very open about the fact that I'm a "nepo baby."
She added, "I'm not ignorant, nor do I deny the privilege I've been given, and I never have been."
@emmanatienza #stitch with @emmanuelle atienza ♬ Girls - The Dare
Emman also explained that she found the now-deleted post from the media outlet "insanely bizarre." She recalled that it said "people like her" should "redistribute their wealth to those most in need of it."
"Hypothetically, if you won the lottery and you won let's say P1 million, are you gonna immediately be giving all of your [millions] to everyone around you? No, you're gonna pay your bills, you're gonna maybe get a nice dinner, you're gonna get some nice clothes, and then maybe the rest you could possibly donate to charity. You are not going to be giving each and every single bit of that million to other people. Be so honest right now," she explained.
She then looked to other posts from the outlet, which included one "praising" Nadine Lustre while she's at an event for renowned fashion brand Bulgari.
"If you're gonna hate on me for being rich, you need to do the same for everyone," Emman said.
She then went on to raise doubts about whether famous personalities like Nadine, BTS, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Olivia Rodrigo are redistributing their wealth. "And they have a 1000 times more wealth than I do," she said.
Social media users react
A day after it was posted, Emman received mixed reactions from online users. While some came to her side, others raised that the difference between her and the celebrities she mentioned is that "they don't flaunt their wealth."
"Kailan pa naging kasalanan maging mayaman," one user said in the comment section of her TikTok.
"Please, it's their money to spend. People nowadays (face palm emoji," another added.
On X, more users criticized her for the celebrities she mentioned.
"The difference between you and the people you've mentioned is that they don't flaunt their wealth based on their actual hard-earned money[.] Plus, telling people that you donate money doesn't justify anything," another user underscored.
Some users humorously responded to sentiments to defend Nadine and made reference to the actress' Instagram posts.
"'Wag mong idamay at igaya si Nadine sayo ate nagte-take out nga 'yan ng pagkain sa handaan," one user said.
"Bakit dinadamay mo si president Nadine, eh hindi nga nag-t-tshirt sa bahay ‘yan para less electricity and water consumption duh ang gamit niyang electric fan halaman duh," another added.
"Very wrong ka jan, girl. Huwag si Nadine. She isn't called President Nadine for nothing," a user shared, posting photos of the actress helping out in Siargao after Typhoon Odette in 2021.
"Olivia [Rodrigo] is literally donating proceeds of her concert ticket sales to different organizations. Nadine has humbled beginnings. None of the girls she mentioned were displaying obscene amounts of wealth," another X user chided.
'I am not responsible for the wealth disparity in the Philippines"
In her statement, Emman stressed in her video that as a teenage girl, she is not "responsible for the wealth disparity" in the country.
"I find it so stupid that people are picking and choosing what to be activists for. If you actually have the issue on wealth disparity, if you actually had an issue with impoverished people, there are ways to help that are not attacking a teenage girl."
She concluded, "Advocate for those in need or you can also volunteer. Volunteering is free, I've done it. Talk to your local government and do something about it because this does nothing for the advocacy that you're trying to be an activist for. It does nothing to the economy. It does nothing to our country. All it does is attack a random person and bring hate to the table."