Singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo broke his silence after facing harsh online criticism following his performance at UST Paskuhan 2025, where netizens mocked his appearance and even made remarks about his alleged body odor while he was visibly drenched in sweat onstage.
The controversy stemmed from a viral video showing Zack approaching the audience while performing in a fitted gray shirt that was soaked with sweat. While some netizens claimed they were present at the event and criticized his smell, others came to his defense, insisting that the singer did not smell bad and that sweating during a high-energy performance was normal.
In a TikTok video posted on December 22, Zack issued a candid statement addressing the backlash and explaining why he chose to speak up this time.
“There were certain comments in that video regarding how I smelled, how I looked like, how my weight was, and all that, and it’s just very bad,” Zack said.
He shared that after years in the entertainment industry, repeated exposure to rumors and online negativity has left him emotionally numb at times.
“I think I’ve been in the industry for a while that I’ve gone through so much rumors and so much issues that it just numbs you and you get to a certain point where you see these comments, it sucks but at the same time, you’re like, ‘Damn, people don’t change,’” he added.
Zack also reflected on how social media narratives have shaped a distorted image of him.
“And to sum it all for you guys, I’m painted in social media as this smelly, ugly kid who has an attitude, who’s always late, who doesn’t dress good, who is fat, ugly, and can’t sing,” he said. “Which is crazy to compare if you talk to people that are with me that I love behind closed doors, who are my friends in the industry, the biggest names in the industry that you guys know, and my family, and my partner.”
He went on to explain how anonymous online trolls contribute to these damaging perceptions.
“And we’re all aware of trolls… trolls are basically accounts that are made anonymously to comment on social media posts about public figures, and they use this power of social media… to hate on people, to say certain things. They get thousands of likes and that certain person is painted as this.”
Zack admitted that the past few years have been particularly difficult for him, especially considering how his identity as an artist has been overshadowed by viral controversies.
“And now, all the dreams that I’ve worked on, which is this artist, becomes a secondary and the first thing you guys know me of is this person,” he said. “And now social media has become this scary place where you can’t express yourself—your freedom of art, your craft, your music, your passion—because one comment that blows up, you’re now painted as this person.”
Ending his statement, Zack appealed for empathy and kindness, reminding the public that celebrities are human too.
“We’re all human at the end of the day,” he said. “Lahat tayo tumatae, lahat tayo pinagpapawisan, lahat tayo nagkakamali sa buhay. And being nice isn’t the hardest thing to do. So yeah, be nice, guys.”
The singer emphasized that his decision to speak out was meant to raise awareness about the impact of online shaming—not just on artists, but on anyone who becomes the subject of viral ridicule.
