‘Hindi ako punching bag:’ Brent Manalo speaks on ‘Showtime’ banter

Brent Manalo addresses online hate following a tense banter with Darren Espanto on “It’s Showtime.”

Darren Espanto and Brent Manalo’s recent exchange on “It’s Showtime” has sparked debate online, with viewers split over whether the remarks were harmless banter or crossed a line.

The exchange began when Brent commented, “Ang galing n’yang sumayaw. Halatang galing siyang ‘The Voice.’” Darren then referenced his The Voice Kids roots, saying, “Galing akong ‘The Voice’ kaya nga multitalented, ‘di ba?” Brent responded, “Ako, subok sa hamon ng buhay dahil galing ako sa PBB.”

Darren then joked, “Parang wala ka naman masyadong ganap doon sa loob ng bahay!”

Some viewers defended the exchange. “‘Di talaga sanay mga Filipino sa banter, kaloka,” one netizen wrote. Another said, “Eh totoo naman na walang ganap si Brent sa bahay ni Kuya, e kung nakakaasar ’yon, ano naman?”

Others, however, argued that Brent’s reality-show experience should not be judged solely on short clips. “Hindi natin alam ang nangyayari sa loob kaya hindi para i-disregard ang paghihirap ni Brent dahil lang sa simpleng clips na napanood natin,” one commenter said.

Brent later addressed the renewed criticism in a social media statement, asking for “a little bit of grace.”

“For months, I took all the lashings and never said a word cos I’m a firm believer that you should always let your work speak for u,” he wrote.

He emphasized that his current opportunities were “never handed to me,” describing them as the product of “years of waiting and hardwork.”

Regarding his time on PBB, Brent acknowledged the controversy surrounding his victory: “Admittedly, my win was polarizing but it is my journey and I hope to be able to look back at it with pride.”

He also addressed a resurfacing “tapatan” clip. “Pinagmumura po ako doon, and I let my emotions get the best of me,” he said, admitting it was “not my proudest moment” and noting that he had already apologized to those he offended.

While remaining open to “constructive criticisms” and promising to keep improving, Brent pushed back against continuous hostility. “If your sole purpose in life is to throw unwarranted hate at me, pls keep your opinions to yourselves… Hindi po ako punching bag.”

The interaction has since reignited a familiar conversation among fans: where is the line between playful teasing and taking things too far?

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