Calls grow to remove Kim Chiu from ‘It’s Showtime’ after fan clash

Online clash revives past controversies as critics push backlash, despite Vice Ganda and Kim Chiu settling issue on-air.

What began as a misunderstanding between Vice Ganda and Kim Chiu’s supporters has now snowballed into a wider online debate, with some netizens even calling for Kim’s removal from “It’s Showtime.”

The discussion erupted after Vice won Best Host at the “FAMAS Broadcast Arts Awards” and thanked several of his co-hosts in his acceptance speech but inadvertently left out Kim. The omission sparked backlash from some KimPau fans, prompting Vice to describe certain reactions on X as “cheapan” and “toxic.”

While both hosts eventually addressed the issue and laughed it off on-air, with Vice admitting the oversight and Kim urging fans to spread love instead, the online discourse continued.

Some critics began resurfacing Kim’s past controversies, including her 2021 comments on infidelity where she said, “Nasa babae din yan kasi ang lalaki mahina, marupok sa harot na tinatawag,” as well as her 2022 joke suggesting pouring hot water for noisy neighborhood cats.

Others, however, focused less on Kim herself and more on the actions of certain fan groups.

“Tama si Liza Soberano, isang malaking cancer talaga ang loveteam fandom,” one netizen wrote. Another commented, “Grabe, Janine, Kath, Anne, Vice, lahat na lang inaway na ng KimPau cult.”

The controversy has reignited conversations about fan culture in Philippine entertainment, particularly how disagreements among fandoms can quickly spill over into personal attacks against celebrities. 

Despite the calls from some corners of social media, both Vice and Kim have publicly shown that there is no bad blood between them, with the two hosts maintaining their usual camaraderie on “It’s Showtime.”

As of writing, neither Kim Chiu nor “It’s Showtime” production has issued any statement regarding calls for her removal from the program.

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