The most talked-about deleted posts in 2024
It's time to talk about the posts that weren't.
While it's a given that you should think before you post something online, doing so is not always easy. Sometimes, you get the feeling of wanting to just post whatever it is that's on your mind without thinking about it too much. Sure, you can delete it minutes or even a day later without worrying that a lot of people have seen it, but this is especially challenging for public figures as, chances are, someone has taken a screenshot of their post before they even think about deleting it.
As 2024 draws to a close, let's take a look back at some of the most buzzworthy posts that may have been erased from the Internet but have remained unforgettable this year.
TUP dress code
Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Manila received online backlash in August after releasing a dress code for students that banned long hair for men and cross-dressing.
The now-deleted Facebook post contained a list of reminders on what students cannot wear in school as per a memorandum from its Office of Student Affairs. It included shorts, crop tops, sleeveless shirts, and slippers as well as long hair for male students, and colored hair for male and female students.
What drew the ire of social media users, however, is how students were also not allowed to cross-dress when entering the campus. A Facebook user, for one, noted that such rules were not inclusive and highlighted how "outdated" their implementation is.
The TUP USG Manila deleted the post later on and said in a statement that they were "discussing terms" with concerned offices.
"While we acknowledge and understand your sentiments, we are with the students. To clarify, the recent announcement was issued solely for information dissemination and should not be construed as an endorsement of the policies in question."
Richard Gomez on EDSA traffic
In August, Leyte Fourth District Representative Richard Gomez became a hot topic online after ranting about EDSA traffic in a now-deleted post.
"2 hours in EDSA traffic and counting. From Makati, Ayala nasa SM EDSA pa lang ako up to now. Eh QC ang punta 'ko. 1 or 2 hours pa ba?" Gomez said in his Aug. 29 post that several pages were able to screenshot.
The politician added, "Ilang bus lang ang gumagamit ng bus lane, bakit hindi buksan during heavy traffic para mas lumuwag ang traffic?"
It didn't take long for the post to attract a series of responses from the general public, who pointed out how he seemed dismissive of the real challenges that Filipino commuters face in EDSA on a daily basis.
In a statement, Gomez noted that it was "an opinion and my reklamo at the moment."
"I don’t use a hagad or a mobile backup for me to go swiftly through traffic. More than that, I don’t use the bus lane. I just find it silly that with so much traffic and the lane is not much utilized when it was needed during that time of traffic," he continued.
Leo Almodal's comment on CJ Opiaza's evening gown
Filipino fashion designer Leo Almodal made the rounds on social media with his comments about CJ Opiaza's evening gown during the Miss Grand International 2024 coronation night.
CJ, who became this year's Miss Grand International first runner-up, donned an embellished silver gown designed by Mak Tumang.
"Whoever designed CJ's gown… First of all, I am very forgiving and easily pleased with other designer's work but her dress is wrong in so many aspects," Almodal said in a now-deleted post on his Facebook page.
According to him, certain aspects of CJ's gown were wrong as they hid CJ's curves and made her look flat-chested.
"Una, Nagmukhang flat dibdib [ni CJ]. Anong nangyari? Pwede naman maglagay seamless pads," he began.
"The torso looked long and straight. Nawala curves ni CJ dahil mali ang patterns ng lines. Nagmukhang tuod," Almodal added, emphasizing that "the design should emphasize and enhance the curves, and not the other way around."
Almodal likewise pointed out that the gown didn't seem to have the right length. "[M]aiksi ang gown and she wore short heels (para hindi bitin tingnan?) at nagmukha siyang pandak itabi sa ibang candidates," he said.
The Pinoy creative took down his post after it raised questions about the line between fashion feedback and outright criticism.
Bea Alonzo’s Lyle Menendez Halloween costume
On Nov. 1, Kapuso actress Bea Alonzo drew flak when she posted a photo of herself in a costume resembling Lyle Menendez, one of the infamous brothers who are serving life in jail for killing their parents in 1989.
The picture, with a caption that read, "Call me Lyle," showed her in a casual 'fit with a gun in her hand.
While some fans found it clever, other Internet users felt uncomfortable with Bea's costume as they pointed out its dark reference and controversial background. (Prosecutors said the brothers murdered their parents over a $14 million or P815.4 million inheritance, while the brothers said they experienced sexual and physical abuse from their father.)
Bea ended up deleting the post, though the photos are still up on her makeup artist's Instagram page with the comments section turned off.
Conor McGregor on Jake Paul's win vs Mike Tyson
Jake Paul's win over Mike Tyson shocked the combat sports world in November. Despite the latter's decades-long dominance in the ring, his return to the sport after a lengthy hiatus raised questions about his readiness.
The results of the match were met with mixed reactions from social media users. While some saw his victory as proof of his growing boxing career, others bashed Tyson for stepping back into the ring. Among them was UFC superstar Conor McGregor, who criticized Paul's choice of opponents in a tweet and said, "They're considering Prichard Colon as the next opponent."
Colon is an American-Puerto Rican boxer who, in 2015, experienced a brain hemorrhage after receiving numerous blows to the back of his neck during his fight against Terrel William. Aside from being left in a coma for 221 days, he also sustained physical and neurological impairments.
After receiving intense criticism from boxing fans, McGregor decided to delete his tweet.
Adam Genato's hurtful remarks about Chelsea Manalo
Pageant vlogger Adam Genato found himself at the center of controversy after making hurtful comments about Chelsea Manalo's performance at the 2024 Miss Universe pageant.
Genato appeared to attribute Manalo's Top 30 finish at the international tilt to her appearance, comparing her to other beauty queens like Ahtisa Manalo and Christi McGarry.
"Kung si Ahtisa Manalo 'tong ipinadala natin ngayon dito sa Mexico or even si Christi McGarry, jusko siguro, Lord, buong tatlong linggo nito mula Oct. 29 to Nov. 18, siguro hindi na tayo matutulog. Talagang ganoon kaingay 'yung dalawang 'yun, 'di ba?" Genato said in a now-deleted YouTube video.
"Kasi tingnan mo, sino ang pinanalo nila? Si Denmark, 'di ba Barbie-looking? Eh sino ba ang closest Barbie-looking natin nung nakaraang MUPh? Si Ahtisa 'di ba?" he added.
Days later, the MUPh organization condemned Genato's statements and described them as "unfair, insensitive, hurtful, and dismissive" toward Manalo's achievements.
"We do not tolerate bullying and irresponsible vlogging especially from an accredited MUPh media partner whom we have welcomed in our events," they stated. "For too long, we have allowed such behavior to be tolerated because bashers and haters have been an accepted part of social media. But in reality, we still have a choice to normalize it or speak up against it."
Genato took down his YouTube video and apologized for the things he said about Manalo.
"The past 24 hours has left me bewildered about my actions, about our candidate Chelsea Manalo, and it really pains me that it has come to this," a tearful Genato said in his apology video. "Chelsea, I'm really, really sorry about what I said about you. It was never really my intention to really hurt your feelings."
While he acknowledged that "there's no excuse" for what he did, Genato admitted that he was hurt by those who called him "plastic" and "two-faced" because he insisted that he was always enthusiastic about the pageant.
"I have no more excuse, but all I want to say is I'm really sorry. I want to seek for all your forgiveness," he said.
