'Englishera girl' breaks silence on viral video from dating show: 'There was nothing wrong with what I said'

The "Englishera girl" who recently went viral on social media for days stressed that there was "nothing wrong" with what she said on the dating show as she described the backlash she received as the "worst experience" of her life.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, March 12, 28-year-old Aly said she's looking to be an anti-bullying advocate after all the bashing she experienced online. "If you guys know where I can start, I am all ears. Maybe a podcast! I want to help other people because I do not wish this at all."

"Why? Because this has been the worst experience of my life," she explained. "I didn't do anything wrong and yet I got hate DMs, was made into memes, a sound bite, death threats, and more."

Aly described what it was like to receive hate from "tens of thousands of people."

"People who I don't even know made assumptions and defined my entire character. This has caused me severe mental and emotional distress and has made me afraid of crowds due to the fear of being recognized."

She thanked those who took the time to watch the full episode published in August 2024 and "realized that there was nothing wrong with what I said and that I was simply sharing my experience and stating my preferences."

"Maybe I could have used different words but I am only echoing what people have said to me. I have experienced this ever since I was young. I get bullied no matter what language I use," she opened up.

According to Aly, she ended up being friends with the male participant after filming the episode. "What I said to him and what you guys have seen was a preference, not a deal breaker, and I was not looking down on him or anyone."

She also stressed that English is her first language, even though she "may not have the typical American accent that you're expecting."

Aly said she only opted to speak in Taglish there since "it's a Filipino show" and that she "was adjusting."

"I hope you can see that I was trying," she said.

She thanked those who sent her love and support amid the backlash. "One thing's for sure, I am blessed with good people. There are many people close to me or those I barely talk to standing up for me," she said. "There are even creators and celebrities I personally like and strangers who defended me as well."

She also had something to say to those who criticized her online: "To those who have sent me hate, I hear you. We have our own preferences and I forgive you and wish you peace," she concluded.

Aly recently became a hot topic online after a spliced video from their part in Pusuan o Laruan with Marion Aunor was reedited and reuploaded by the show on social media.

In the YouTube show, contestants holding balloons are introduced to a potential match and pop it to show they’re not interested. 

Aly popped hers after meeting school instructor Ian. “I’m an Englishera... halata,” she explained. “Baka ma-overwhelm ka sa’kin, at baka ma-overwhelm din ako sa’yo ‘pag straight Tagalog.” While Ian introduced himself in English, Aly opted out when he began explaining his red flags mostly in Filipino.

The spliced video invited the rage of Filipino users, with many arguing that it isn’t enough of a dealbreaker and noting that Aly wasn’t much of an “Englishera” to begin with.