Vlogger and podcast host Julian Agustin has released a public apology following the backlash over a viral interview clip featuring fellow LGBTQ content creator Edward Yan, who had earlier issued his own apology over remarks about body types and dating preferences.
Both Agustin and Yan are former searchers from the recently concluded ‘Sparks Camp’.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Agustin acknowledged the criticism surrounding the episode of his vlog ‘I Can Host Podcast’, where Yan’s comments were made public and widely circulated online.
“To everyone who watched, reacted to, or was hurt by my latest episode of I Can Host Podcast: The video was posted publicly and it is only fair for people to share their own unfiltered thoughts,” Agustin wrote.
He explained that the intent of the episode was to explore a friend’s personal standards in a setting similar to private conversations among close friends, but admitted that the discussion failed to consider its broader impact once released online.
“The context of the full episode was intended to understand the unfiltered experience of a friend’s preferences and standards… Honestly, the conversation flowed truthfully, and I apologize for the faulty reasoning that was mentioned,” he said.
While noting that Yan had already acknowledged his mistake, Agustin stressed that this did not lessen the harm caused.
“However, this doesn’t disregard the impact it had after being streamed online. I’m truly sorry to anyone who felt disrespected, invalidated, or hurt by what was said,” he added.
Agustin admitted lapses in judgment as a content creator and took full accountability for the episode.
“I failed in my responsibility as a host and creator to uphold a well-mannered discussion due to poor judgment and oversight in how the episode was composed. I take full accountability for this,” he said.
He also reflected on the nature of his podcast, which he described as a space for raw and unfiltered conversations usually shared only within an inner circle, but acknowledged that public platforms require greater care.
“I’ve come to realize that having honesty must still come with care and the proper knowledge to support it. This is a learning opportunity for me to be more responsible, sensitive and to think critically when having conversations especially on topics that involve explicit matters and identities,” Agustin wrote.
Agustin thanked ‘Sparks Camp’ “Mother Sparker” Mela Habijan, along with Hyro Aguinaldo and Crystal, for helping clarify the discourse surrounding the controversy.
He also shared points from Habijan that he said helped reframe the issue: “It’s okay to have preferences. Valid ’yun. But we also must reflect, where is this rooted?”
“Hindi lahat ng chubby ay chubby dahil hindi nila inaalagaan ang sarili… May mga chubby dahil hormonal issues… may mga dumadaan sa mental health issues…”
Agustin ended his statement by emphasizing that he was not seeking immediate forgiveness, but personal growth.
“I’m not here to ask for forgiveness right away, but am here to reset and genuinely build more self-awareness,” he wrote.
The controversy began after Yan’s interview comments about body type preferences went viral, prompting accusations of body shaming and insensitivity. While Yan has already issued a separate public apology, criticism also extended to Agustin for allowing the discussion to air on his platform, with some netizens accusing both creators of using “rage bait” content for engagement.
As of this writing, the issue continues to spark discussions online, particularly within the LGBTQ community, around body positivity, platform responsibility, and ethical content creation.
