Kapuso rising star Shuvee Etrata has been navigating backlash after an old clip of her expressing sympathy for former President Rodrigo Duterte resurfaced online.
While Etrata issued an apology and vowed to learn from her mistake, her uncle and manager, Yuri Etrata, drew more criticism after posting offensive remarks on social media targeting Duterte critics and supporters of former Vice President Leni Robredo.
On Sept. 23, Shuvee posted an Instagram Story to apologize: “Bago lang po lahat to sa akin. Kaya pasensya na po sa lahat ng na-disappoint at nasaktan ko. I understand that what I said in the past caused hurt to some, and I take responsibility for it,” she wrote.
“Sa totoo lang po, iniiwasan ko po talaga ang magsalita tungkol sa politics dahil napaka-divisive nito. Ang mas mahalaga sa akin ngayon ay ang mahalin ang bayan at manindigan laban sa sumisira nito tulad ng korapsyon. Lalo na po ngayon,” she added.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala, natuto na po ako. Lalawakan ko pa po ang pag-iisip ko para sa ating lahat. I will continue to learn and grow. Mahal ko po kayo at mahal ko ang Pilipinas lalo na sa panahon ngayon. I stand for and with the Filipino people, always,” Etrata concluded.
The apology came after netizens unearthed her March 2025 TikTok live where she admitted crying over Duterte’s ICC arrest: “Naiiyak talaga ako kagabi, empath kasi ako. Like sa lugar kasi namin, ang laki kasi ng tulong ni PRRD, like ang drugs talaga guys, ang laki na thing na ‘yun. Hindi ko alam sa inyo pero nagpapasalamat talaga ako kay Duterte,” she said.
But instead of easing the controversy, her uncle-manager Yuri aggravated the situation. In a now-deleted Instagram Story, he mocked Duterte’s critics: “Shuvee, there was nothing wrong with what you did in expressing support for former President Duterte. It’s just that the Liberal kakampwets [who] hate him and anyone who supports him,” he wrote.
He further added: “The liberal kakampwets are in the minority, but they are like dogs on the loose, attacking those who do not agree with them. It just sucks that you are in showbiz where people in the industry would be so quick to cancel Duterte supporters just because of the ABS franchise shutdown.”
Yuri also predicted a Duterte comeback in 2028: “Come 2028, these dogs will be barking like crazy because it will be a Duterte who becomes this country’s president again. That is, if walang dayaan. But God is powerful. He won’t allow the wicked to prosper, 32M DDS votes vs. 15M Kakampwet votes.”
The remarks backfired as fans pointed out that Shuvee’s current opportunities—including an upcoming film with Nadine Lustre and Vice Ganda and frequent stints on ‘It’s Showtime’—are with artists and networks identified with the very groups her uncle disparaged.
Shuvee herself has not echoed her uncle’s statements and instead joined her ‘It’s Showtime’ co-hosts in wearing white on Sept. 22 in solidarity with Filipinos calling for an end to corruption.
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) this week released details of murder and attempted murder charges against Duterte tied to his anti-drug campaign, the very issue at the core of Shuvee’s controversial remarks.
