MTRCB warns against fake news about Vice Ganda's fried chicken ad: 'Such claims are malicious and false'
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has denied the allegations that it summoned a "certain celebrity," who appears to be Vice Ganda, for her latest fast food commercial.
MTRCB's statement, released on social media on Oct. 29, comes after a satire X (formerly Twitter) account named "Anima Cristi Fermin" claimed that Vice is being summoned by the regulatory board for her way of eating fried chicken in the advertisement. As of writing, the post earned 2.7 million views and 25,000 likes.
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— Anima Cristi Fermin (@altcristifermin) October 27, 2023
Lala at MTRCB ipatatawag ang McDonald’s Philippines at si Vice Ganda dahil umano sa pagkain ng chicken Mcdo gamit ang bibig na tila may hawig sa paraan ng pagkain nito ng Icing sa It’s showtime na nagpapakita na sarap na sarap ang host sa pagkain. pic.twitter.com/04188Uh95P
"The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) debunks social media posts claiming that the Board has summoned a certain celebrity who appeared in a recent Television ( TV ) Commercial of a Fast-food chain. Such claims are malicious and false," MTRCB wrote in the statement.
"In this digital age, it is crucial to verify the news and be mindful of sources of information before sharing. This incident underscores the importance of Media Literacy and Critical thinking," it continued.
The government agency, chaired by Lala Sotto, also expressed its support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCOO) efforts to “combat disinformation and misinformation.”
"We believe that we must put an end to the era of fake news and let truth prevail," it added.
Vice Ganda has yet to issue a statement addressing the claims as of writing.
On Saturday, October 28, Vice made her noontime comeback through ABS-CBN's It's Showtime. The Kapamilya variety show returned on air after serving the 12-day suspension imposed by the MTRCB on the show on Oct. 14.
MTRCB issued the suspension order to the show on Sept. 4 after receiving multiple complaints concerning the show's July 25 episode, where Vice and her reel-to-real partner Ion allegedly “acted in an indecent manner” during its Isip Bata segment.
The show's producer, ABS-CBN Corporation, on the same day, retaliated with a Motion for Reconsideration on the belief that "there was no violation of pertinent law."
Three weeks later, on Sept. 28, MTRCB denied GMA Network and ABS-CBN's Motion for Reconsideration. One week later, on Oct. 6, ABS-CBN announced that it had decided to yield to the agency's decision to suspend It's Showtime temporarily.
