On August 9, an article from Nylon Manila came out about Kathryn Bernardo’s ‘Experimental Era,’ which caused fans of the Kapamilya actress to call out the publication and their editor-in-chief Ayn Bernos.
On Twitter, a netizen posted the original article discussing Bernardo’s upcoming film with BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated actress Dolly De Leon, ‘A Very Good Girl.’
Some pointed to the backhanded compliments in the article.
https://twitter.com/jochendria/status/1689272481813778432
read the article.
this is supposed to be all about kathryn's new era. instead of the whole article being welcoming of her growth, it only sounded like kathryn needs to do more of what others are doing just so she won't be left behind. this is not very women empowerment. https://t.co/cr6zmxrKn0 pic.twitter.com/HKu7Usmu9i
— nin (@workingurlie) August 9, 2023
this article is so freaking backhanded . @NYLONManila @aynbernos who are you to talk abt kathryn’s career growth ? did u talk to her ? did u interview her ? did she say she’s experimenting now ? also , did ur research team missed the part where she did la luna , pagpag, srr ? https://t.co/YdE0wJVWAK
— ! (@corpussydelicti) August 9, 2023
374k views for a trashy article? Congrats for achieving that feat na super rare mangyari sa mga posts niyo @NYLONManila. Imagine getting that much engagement because of how awful, careless & selective this article is. Napakagaling mong eic @aynbernos Achieve ang clout na nais. 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/mvzqmXRB71
— Holly Golightly (@msalison13) August 9, 2023
Tamang edit lang w/o acknowledging your mistakes. The damage has been done & pinatunayan niyo lang how selective you are lalo ka na @aynbernos. I still can’t imagine how you approved that writing filled with backhanded compliment. Sayang ang talak about women empowerment, girl! https://t.co/7mbPLtLKwG
— Holly Golightly (@msalison13) August 9, 2023
They also noted how the original article seemingly ignored Bernardo’s career growth, especially in taking on mature roles.
ok that nylon article about kathryn is unfair haha. also ang funny nung comparison nila to enrique gil, liza, etc and also that last line na “we hope it’s not short lived” like wtf. big question din is why did ayn bernos green light that article? haha lol
— gab (@tchitchae) August 10, 2023
fix or correct the article, all I can tell you is shame on you for approving that article to be released, @aynbernos, and of course, the writer of that article, who the f*ck are you to disregard Kathryn's hardship and disrespect her? After all, you are a writer. ++
— aya (@http_joshuaya) August 9, 2023
As a result, netizens called out the publication, especially Bernos, who has been actively advocating women’s empowerment, for allowing the article that seemed to downplay an actress’s achievement throughout her career.
i love how @aynbernos carry herself for the past years but girl this ain't it, hindi nakaka woman empowerment 'to this is straight disrespect to the artist and to the craft that she chooses. why did u approve to publish this trash article? ang selective nyo naman kung ganon 🙃 https://t.co/Vz9YJS1g8s
— K (@beaukathniel) August 9, 2023
lol for someone na laging may opinion sa iba’t-ibang bagay at mga issues na nangyayari sa internet, ito lang matatanggap namin?
you are a well-known influencer who advocates feminism, yet your behavior and silence reveal much about your principles @aynbernos @NYLONManila https://t.co/ACliw2D43q
— ً (@danielford) August 9, 2023
daming hanash sa tiktok, maglalabas pa ng book pero walang accountability. kapal mo naman @aynbernos advocate ng women empowerment pero basura articles inaapprove. sinisiraan kapwa babae. selective yarn#NylonManilaBasura
— Jens ✨ (@imjenstolentino) August 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/re4ltalk_irist/status/1689454955307122688
While the article had been edited, with the excerpts that seemed to dismiss Bernardo’s achievement as an actress already removed, netizens have voiced their dismay over the lack of accountability.
hi @aynbernos,
first of all, we don't accept edited articles without you and your team taking accountability for what you did. you don't have to justify what you did because we all know it was poorly written but at least give us something that made you guys think it was "okay".
— mom (@KBILLIONACTRESS) August 10, 2023
can edit but can't own up to their mistakes. we demand accountability, @NYLONManila. its very disappointing about how loud you are in promoting women empowerment yet you are silent and can't even give a proper statement about this shitty article, @aynbernos. hypocrite. https://t.co/8kTqPZWyJn
— ًk (@kathscopia) August 9, 2023
As a result, Bernos posted a tweet, taking accountability and acknowledging that she ‘overlooked the tone and word choice in some parts of the piece.’
She appreciated the feedback and promised to listen and do better.
https://twitter.com/aynbernos/status/1689883480925294592
As for Bernardo, she had been doing new and different roles with her projects.
The first example is ‘Hello Love Goodbye’ in 2019, wherein she portrayed a workaholic Overseas Filipino Worker in Hong Kong, showing the modern plights and struggles of OFWs abroad.
She also did ‘The Hows Of US’ in 2018 with her beau Daniel Padilla, who depicted the emotional complexities of exes who got into a long-term relationship, faced the hardships of life, matured, and found their way back to each other.
Not to mention her roles in the Kapamilya series, 2 Good 2 Be True, in which Bernardo showcased her acting skills on TV as a healthcare provider with dreams of becoming a doctor.