BINI Gwen addresses bashing over 'turon without sugar' comment in viral street food video
BINI's Gwen Apuli explained why she prefers eating turon without sugar as she reflected on the bashing she and her group got following the release of their viral street food video.
The P-pop singer was asked about her viral comment in BINI's guest appearance on the People Vs Food YouTube channel in July, where they were asked to rate Filipino snacks. In the video, she said "I only eat turon without sugar" when they were given the merienda staple.
"Oo, sanay talaga po ako sa turon na walang sugar," she said in an interview on talent manager Ogie Diaz's vlog. "Kasi as in lalo kung taga-Bicol po, mostly, hindi ko po nilalahat kasi siyempre iba-iba pa rin, mostly talaga sa Bicol, lumaki akong walang sugar ‘yung turon."
Gwen explained that in Bicol, the sweetness from the ripe bananas it's made with is enough.
She also addressed those who bashed her pronunciation of the Pinoy snack. "Pasensya na po, hindi ko alam 'yung English ng turon so napa-slang na lang tayo," she said with a laugh.
Gwen admitted that the backlash affected her.
“Well ako po, actually tina-try ko po talaga ‘yung best ko na ‘wag magbasa [ng bad comments], kasi hindi ko in-expect na gano’n pala siya lumala," she said.
“Nakaka-affect po talaga siya," she opened up. "Lahat na nahahalungkat, na-judge ka na ng lahat ng tao, [na] maarte ka sa pagkain, mahirap ka lang naman noon, tapos ganon na ‘yung sinasabi mo."
According to Gwen, it even affected her family at some point.
"Feeling ko mas nasaktan ako nung naa-affect na rin ‘yung family ko, ‘yung ibang relatives ko po," she said, adding that her mom got so close to responding to her haters.
In the controversial video, BINI members Jhoanna, Stacey, Gwen, Aiah, Mikha, Sheena, Colet, and Maloi joined host Nicole Iizuka and Filipina reactor Jayka Noelle as they tried 11 classic treats and street food. These include kwek-kwek, hopiang baboy, grilled isaw, turon, balut, and more.
While some viewers were entertained by the video, others did not appreciate some of BINI's comments on the snacks they tried. Nevertheless, some fans defended the girls and emphasized that they were merely sharing their honest opinion about their preferences.
Her co-member, Jhoanna, earlier addressed the issue. "Siguro hindi lang kami naging careful kung paano kami nag-react since nasa ibang lugar kami. Ganon ko na lang po siya inisip. Gets ko na 'yung galit nila kasi sana kahit papano finilter namin. Gets ko 'yung pagiging authentic namin pero nga dahil nasa ibang lugar po kami, sana kinontrol namin kahit konti. 'Yun naman po 'yung learning namin doon," she said.
BINI, through their legal counsel, Atty. Joji Alonso has taken legal action against an unnamed individual for unjust vexation after the latter made a spliced video showing only the girls' negative comments on the Filipino dishes in their People Vs Food appearance.
