Former child star Xyriel Manabat opened up about how her mental health was affected after being sexualized by netizens.
In Star Magic’s YouTube update on April 28, Manabat read netizens’ toxic comments about her body. She then talked about how netizens body-shamed and sexualized her.
“Ginagamit nila yung picture ko. Tapos ie-edit nila na parang nakahawak sila sa private part ko,” she said.
To recall, Manabat became viral in September 2020 after posting pictures of herself. Netizens noticed how her breasts grew larger. She was 16 at the time.
Manabat was disturbed that people sexualized her and blamed her for wearing revealing clothes.
The young actress then revealed how her mental health was affected by all this.
She said, “Binabastos po nila ako and ino-objectify. Sine-sexual assault nila ako in a way. Hindi po yon dapat pinapalagpas. Na-overcame ko po siya. Gumawa po kami ng legal action and nag-therapy po ako sa mga ganu’n kong nababasa and nakikita.”
She explained, “Kasi kailangan kong i-prioritize ang mental health ko, kasi hindi po talaga helpful ang ganu’ng nakikita ko.”
When a netizen told her to reduce her breast size, Manabat said people should mind their own business.
“Minsan yung iba pong kino-comment-an natin ng ganito, hindi po kasing tibay ng loob ko. Hindi po kasing lakas ng loob ko para lagpasan. Kasi kahit ako po minsan pag nakakabasa ng mga ganito, not-so-nice comment na, ‘Puwedeng huwag niyo po akong manduhan sa katawan ko? Kung iyon po ang nakikita ninyo, tignan niyo na lang, scroll niyo na lang. Huwag na po kayong mag-comment hangga’t maaari.”
Manabat concluded, “And wag niyo pong i-wish na bastusin o tingnan dahil lang sa body type. Kasi hindi po talaga doon nababase kung babastusin or ano. Hindi po ang body type ang mag-a-adjust, kundi yung utak po natin.”
Xyriel Manabat stars in the Kapamilya series ‘Dirty Linen’.
