Vice Ganda Vilified for his "rape joke" - May 29, 2013

Hours after his dramatic comeback in ABS-CBN's noontime variety show "Showtime," comedian-host Vice Ganda is facing a deluge of attacks for a joke about rape.

Reporters from ABS-CBN's rival GMA on Tuesday slammed Vice for making rape jokes about news anchor Jessica Soho, the network's vice president for news and public affairs.

"Papatulan ko na siya kasi pag di natin siya sinita. Hindi natin alam sino pa'ng isusunod niyang biktimahin, (I may not be able to stop myself if we don't call him out. We don't know who he will take on next)," Arnold Clavio said in his morning show on GMA radio station dzBB.

He was referring to a segment in Vice Ganda's recent blockbuster concert wherein the comedian named Jessica as one of the famous personalities who would be preposterous in sexy roles.

Jessica would debut in a movie entitled "Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Sobra," Vice said, a reference to popular Filipino film "Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (You were judged but you fell short)."

But Vice Ganda apparently meant "weigh" when he used the word "timbang." This was evident in his next joke about how Jessica can make a weighing scale go haywire.

The comedian said a weighing scale would complain "One at a time, one at a time" if Jessica were to step on it.

It was Vice Ganda's joke about rape, however, that set off online hate against the comedian, not only from GMA reporters but from many in the online Filipino community.

Still talking about Jessica, Vice Ganda said any rape scene with the seasoned anchor would have to be gang rape.

The rapists would say, "Ipasok ang lechon (Bring in the roasted pig)!" the comedian said further, adding that Jessica would ask "Nasaan ang apple (Where is the apple)?"

In a statement sent to GMA's online news portal, Jessica herself said: "Rape is not a joke and should never be material for a comedy concert."

Even as she thanked those who tweeted their support, Jessica said: "[T]his should not be about me but about rape victims who suffer tremendously from this terrible crime."

"The horrors they go through are unspeakable and should never be taken lightly, especially by way of a cruel joke," the news executive said further.

Other GMA reporters, as well as netizens, also joined the chorus of attacks against Vice Ganda.