Emmanuelle Atienza, daughter of TV host Kim Atienza, is currently facing intense scrutiny on social media following a controversial TikTok video.
The backlash intensified when Emmanuelle mentioned actress Nadine Lustre in her explanation of the ‘Guess the Bill Challenge,’ which she participated in with friends at a Japanese restaurant.
In the viral video, Emmanuelle and her friends attempted to guess the total bill for their meal, with estimates ranging from ₱120,000 to ₱130,000. The challenge sparked outrage among netizens, who criticized Emmanuelle for what they perceived as flaunting wealth and insensitivity.
While the video has since been deleted from Emmanuelle’s TikTok account, she issued a statement on September 24, clarifying that the challenge was intended as a joke.
@emmanatienza #stitch with @emmanuelle atienza if you have an issue with somebody having money, i need you to give the same energy to all celebrities, tycoons, etc.
“The video was a joke. I thought it was obvious and the bill was an outrageously high number. But apparently, it’s believable that I can pay that much for dinner,” she explained. Emmanuelle noted that the dinner was a birthday treat for a friend, sponsored by her friend’s agency.
In her statement, Emmanuelle referred to Lustre as an example when discussing the criticism directed at her. “If you’re gonna hate on me for being rich, you need to do the same for everyone,” she said.
She then raised doubts about whether celebrities like Nadine, BTS, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Olivia Rodrigo are redistributing their wealth, remarking, “And they have a 1000 times more wealth than I do.”
Emmanuelle’s comments further aggravated fans, who pointed out that Nadine Lustre has worked hard to achieve her success in the entertainment industry.
For appreciation – I msgd Nadine 2 check if I could give her & her fam a gift (food) for Christmas dinner in 2021 but she actually told me to save it for some other time bec. she was preppin for Typhoon Odette relief efforts – ON CHRISTMAS. I know for a fact she does more BTS. https://t.co/j0t1tbv63H
— Martin (@mart712in) September 24, 2024
Baby girl, the comparison with Nadine Lustre is so stupid because she’s at an event where she is displaying a product. She is not bragging abt it, she is trying to sell it. You were not selling anything in your video aside from the fact that you are indeed, out-of-touch. https://t.co/CRbzCGNu6D
— Amber #FREEPALESTINE (@geeyanii) September 24, 2024
nadine lustre, bts, taylor swift: talented artists
emman atienza: papansin sa tiktok https://t.co/B3LbNcrI9V
— isla (@won_pun) September 24, 2024
why is nadine getting dragged for being an endorser and olivia rodrigo is literally donating the proceeds of her concert to charity? she’s so dumb for mentioning all those artists bc the fans are gonna come for her now https://t.co/PRA3bvCiLG
— (@kfilmophile) September 24, 2024
Not her dragging President Nadine Lustre as if Nadine has been splurging on a 100k dinner and posting it on social media? The last time Nadine splurged was when she bought a whole ass bottle of Mang Tomas when there’s clearly a sachet option. https://t.co/vOjxR2InpF
— Allen Guanzon ✊ (@all_enguanzon) September 24, 2024
Critics noted that Lustre’s rise to fame did not involve leveraging connections, and she has faced rejection in auditions due to her appearance.
sorry, may rant lang. ignore me, I have a lot of thoughts, it is my soap box:
To this Atienza child:
It is the gross display that rubbed people the wrong way. It is not because you are rich. It is your obtuse display of opulence, the lack of regard that your audience really… https://t.co/ky8ogDO1Hw— Amber (@AltheyuhMoves) September 24, 2024
nadine lustre said it herself that she had to work twice as hard because of how the showbiz industry favors mestizas and you’re using her as an example to justify your nepo baby privileges…?
— ً (@livelikepotter) September 24, 2024
teh wag mo kumpara sayo si nadine lustre she has worked so so hard to get where she is now. Pumasok si nadine sa industry ng walang connection. She’s not a nepo baby like you. Literal na product ka ng nepotism. What’s not clicking https://t.co/WaupC1hOWS
— Bini Renz (@renzdelaluna) September 24, 2024
Bitch you’re even dumber than I thought. She was modeling some Bulgari pieces because it was WORK (a concept that’s probably foreign to you). Even her purse was from an online retailer. And republicasia was praising her looks. Again, something that’s probably alien to you. https://t.co/10yjLOc0YC pic.twitter.com/bhaU5MzyX8
— Rosas⁷ (@parksodamned) September 24, 2024
As the debate continues, this article remains open to comments from Nadine, Kim, Emmanuelle and anyone else involved in the controversy.