Comedians and ‘Dogshow Divas’ hosts Macoy Dubs and Baus Rufo spoke out against content creators they accused of engaging in “queerbaiting,” or portraying queer identities for clout.
The issue was raised during their March 18 episode titled ‘Mga Nanay Niyong Galit,’ where the two shifted from answering a fan question about their coming out stories to addressing what they described as a growing trend online.
“’Yung mga straight na nagbabakla-baklaan na content, tigil niyo ‘yan,” Macoy said.
“Queerbaiting. Tigil niyo ‘yan ha!” Baus added.
While they did not mention specific individuals, both hosts made it clear that their remarks were directed at multiple content creators.
“The queer people, anong tingin niyo sa amin? Mga gatekeepers of culture kaya ‘yung mga straight people feeling niyo na lang, ‘ay let’s pander to the gays because they are going to make us famous’? No,” Baus said.
Macoy echoed the sentiment, calling out what he sees on social media.
“No, tigil niyo ‘yan. I-delete niyo ‘yang mga account na ‘yan. Ang daming dumadaan sa feed ko hindi naman talaga bakla pero nagbabakla-baklaan. I know your names [but] I’m not going to mention,” he said.
Despite the strong remarks, the two clarified that their message is rooted in respect and responsible participation in queer spaces.
“I mean, nakakaloka ‘yung queerbaiting kasi tayong mga medyo matandang bading, we spent like a good chunk of our lives trying to seek approval na ayaw ibigay sa atin…earn it naman,” Baus said.
“We are not saying na we’re not going to give it to you pero like allyship naman muna bago clout,” he added.
Their comments come amid recent discussions online accusing some popular creators of queerbaiting, including Tito Marsy and Tito Abdul, who are known for producing LGBTQ-themed content while identifying as straight men in real life.
The duo gained wider recognition after appearing in the Kapuso series ‘Sanggang Dikit FR’, starring Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado, where they portrayed gay characters.
In a previous guest appearance on GMA Network’s vodcast ‘Your Honor’, they addressed public assumptions about their identities.
“Wala kaming choice, kumbaga, nilalaro na lang namin,” Tito Abdul said.
“Mas natutuwa kaming napagkakamalan kami nang ganu’n, kasi ibig sabihin, effective,” Tito Marsy added.
Macoy and Baus, however, maintained that creators should approach queer representation with authenticity and respect rather than using it as a shortcut to popularity.