“Team Sharpay” forever: Why Bretman Rock just called out Vanessa Hudgens

The “Main Character” vs. the “Coachella Queen”—Bretman Rock’s explosive podcast reveal reignites the debate over Vanessa Hudgens’ Filipino roots.

A pre-Christmas Bretman Rock didn’t mince words as he aired his disappointment over an encounter with Vanessa Hudgens—his remarks resurfacing in the first week of January 2026.

On the Dec. 24 episode of the “Sweet and Savory Podcast,” hosted by Filipino-American singer couple Alyssa and AJ Rafael, Bretman was asked about his “most disappointing celebrity encounter.” He was reminded that it’s okay to not identify the person.

“Vanessa Hudgens, b***h,” Bretman said without hesitation. “I don’t like her, literally.”

The Coachella snub: “I was waving at the CEO”

He recalled running into Vanessa at Coachella sometime in 2017 or 2018, and she was talking to a haircare brand CEO who happened to be his friend. As he tried to get the executive’s attention, Bretman claimed Vanessa appeared to deliberately avoid him.

“I’m, like, waving at him, not at her. And she literally, like, looks at me and tries to hide,” he said.

“I’m like, ‘First of all, I am not saying hi to you.’ I was always Team Sharpay,” Bretman said, referencing Vanessa’s rival character in “High School Musical,” where she rose to fame.

Bretman also recalled another person allegedly stepping in “to block her” from view.

“She grabs her hand and makes her stand in front of her,” he said. “Because, at that point, I was walking towards them to say hi to the CEO[.]”

Despite Vanessa’s reputation as a so-called “Coachella Queen,” Bretman said he “doesn’t give a f**k.”

“Girl, we’re getting the same pass,” he said. “You’re not above me, I’m not under you. I’m Filipino, b***h. You can’t even like your own people.”

The cultural sting: “You can’t even like your own people”

The most talked-about part of the interview wasn’t the Coachella tea, but Bretman’s critique of Hudgens’ connection to her Filipino heritage. Hudgens, who was named a Global Tourism Ambassador for the Philippines in 2023, has faced recurring criticism regarding her “belated” embrace of her roots.

The aftermath: cryptic runs and silence

While Vanessa Hudgens has yet to issue an official response, Bretman is doubling down on his “unbothered” energy. On January 11, 2026, he posted a video of himself on a run with the taunting caption: “Nanana.”

The cryptic post follows a week of headlines after Bretman detailed a years-old Coachella run-in with the High School Musical star. Bretman alleged that Hudgens ignored him and even had an assistant “block” her from view, despite both being VIP guests of the same brand.

His pointed critique—”You’re not above me, I’m not under you. I’m Filipino, b*tch”—reignited long-standing debates about Hudgens’ connection to her Filipino heritage and her past role as the country’s Global Tourism Ambassador.

While Hudgens has remained silent, Bretman’s “Nanana” video appears to be a victory lap. Whether he’s referencing the High School Musical soundtrack or simply “singing” his way through the controversy, the message is clear: he’s unbothered, hydrated, and still the “Main Character.”

Where the internet stands

The “Team Bretman” View	The “Team Vanessa” View
Praises him for calling out “gatekeeping” and “diva behavior.”	Argues she may have just been overwhelmed by the Coachella crowd.
Supports his stance on authentic Filipino representation.	Believes Bretman is being too harsh on a years-old misunderstanding.
Loves the “Sharpay” nostalgia and humor.	Points out Vanessa’s private nature regarding her personal space.

 

 

You’re not above me, I’m not under you.

Bretman Rock on Vanessa Hudgens 

 

 

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