Ben&Ben addresses gig schedule conflict with Tanya Markova, FEU Diliman event
Ben&Ben issued statements after drawing flak due to allegations of causing other artists to be sidelined at events.
The nine-piece folk-pop band addressed the issue in two separate statements on Monday, Aug. 19.
“For years, we have chosen not to speak on the issue of the band being the cause of other performers not being able to perform on certain events,” they began, adding that the issue has caused the band to be “dragged left and right with baseless accusations and maligned statements.”
“This being an attack on the band’s integrity, and an injustice for all those who support the band’s music and message, we have decided to end this issue, once and for all,” the continued.
Detailing an event at FEU Diliman on Aug. 17, Ben&Ben shared it was communicated to their team earlier that day that the program experienced delays and they have been in constant communication with the organizers.
“[A]t all times, the management of the band CLEARLY expressed that it is a priority to ensure that the event goes as planned and all performers are able to perform, as we have always done in the past. As such, the band will be on standby and adjust to any changes made in order to fulfill this,” they wrote.
Despite the “preventive measures and constant communication,” they learned that Bicolano singer-songwriter dwta was unable to perform, as decided upon by the event organizers.
Ben&Ben stressed that it’s always the event’s organizers who get to decide who performs. Although delays are unavoidable, the band's management “exercises whichever help is needed to ensure that no artist is dropped out of the program for whatsoever reason.”
Prior to the band’s statement, Dwta advised her supporters to refrain from mentioning any artist regarding the incident, as the organizers are the ones who should be held accountable.
On Tanya Markova's issue
In a separate statement, the band spoke out about a 2022 gig schedule conflict with other artists during the CAMANAVA grand rally of Atty. Leni Robredo's campaign for president.
In their guesting on the Koolpals podcast in January, Tanya Markova detailed that they were the 24th performer, followed by Ben&Ben in the lineup. However, they were shocked when they saw the band on stage at the time as the 17th act.
The issue has since been settled, according to Ben&Ben.
“Nag-explain sila, so sila pala ‘yung nasa van lang the whole time, siyempre wala silang alam sa nangyayari sa loob, so tinawag na lang sila,” they recalled. “Siguro akala nila sila na nga ‘yung last band so tinanggap namin ‘yung dahilan na ‘yun.”
“Naayos na namin para lang matapos ‘yung issue,” Tanya Markova added. “Ang ginawa lang namin ay tumindig lang kami para sa mga ibang musikero na nasaktan. Okay na kami ‘dun sa dahilan na ‘yun, hindi naman talaga nila kasalanan.”
For their part, Ben&Ben said that it was “never [their] intention nor the action of the band nor the band’s management to sideline other artists.”
The group added they were also a victim of unforeseen delays like other artists, stressing that organizers should be the ones to take accountability for the problems that occurred at the said event.
A few days after the event, Ben&Ben scheduled a meeting with the parties involved to apologize, “even if the band had no decision-making authority in the sequence of events.”
Additionally, they called out the use of homophobic slurs as a means of insult and discrimination.
“In all this, we hope this finally brings truth out, and holds the right parties accountable,” they concluded.
In light of the mishaps, the band stressed that they have taken a proactive measure to protect the rights of fellow artists, saying that their management has included in their contract “the stipulation that the band will only agree to perform if the program of events is followed and no artist performance gets canceled or moved around.”
