TV personality Kim Atienza has spoken out against a netizen who appeared to blame him and his wife for the passing of their 19-year-old daughter, Emman Atienza, who was found dead in Los Angeles last week.
The ‘Dapat Alam Mo!’ host shared a heartfelt TikTok video on October 26, featuring Emman singing in a recording studio, with the caption: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Thank you for the 19 years of my dearest little Emmansky, Lord.”
While the post was met with an outpouring of sympathy from celebrities and followers alike, one commenter under the name Joy left a harsh message, claiming that Atienza should not have attributed his daughter’s death to God.
“God did not take her life — she made that choice herself. If you are truly in Christ, the Holy Spirit will convict you to repent for the ways you may have fallen short as a parent. This is an open rebuke. You were meant to be her primary protector, teacher, and guide,” the netizen wrote.
The grieving father did not let the remark pass, calling out the commenter as an “evangelical bully.”
“My Emman did not make that choice as clearly as you make choices,” Kuya Kim responded. “My Emman was clinically depressed.”
Emman was found dead inside her home in Los Angeles, California, on October 22, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report, which confirmed the cause of death as suicide.
Despite the painful loss, he continues to honor Emman’s memory by highlighting her kindness, authenticity, and courage in speaking about mental health.
“She brought so much joy, laughter, and love into our lives and into the lives of everyone who knew her,” he wrote in an earlier statement. “Emman had a way of making people feel seen and heard, and she wasn’t afraid to share her own journey with mental health. Her authenticity helped so many feel less alone.”
He added a message that has since resonated deeply with his followers: “To honor Emman’s memory, we hope you carry forward the qualities she lived by — compassion, courage, and a little extra kindness in your everyday life.”
Since Emman’s passing, thousands have extended messages of sympathy to the Atienza family. Fellow celebrities, colleagues, and netizens expressed admiration for Kuya Kim’s unwavering faith even in grief.
One follower commented, “Even through unimaginable pain, your faith is solid. Thank you for showing grace and strength in your loss.”
Amid the flood of condolences, Atienza continues to encourage empathy and compassion — reminding everyone that behind every loss is a family in deep mourning.
“Be kind,” he wrote in a previous post. “You never know the battles others are fighting.”
