Filipino-American model and pageant titleholder Brandon Espiritu has opened up about the controversy surrounding his viral “halfies” remark, admitting that his comment was “arrogant” and acknowledging the criticism it sparked online.
Espiritu, who represented the Philippines at the 2024 Mister Supranational pageant and finished as second runner-up, was recently spotted in Osaka, Japan, where he appeared in a street interview conducted by content creator Eren Wayne Jr.
The former pageant titleholder revealed that he traveled to Japan with his mother to celebrate her birthday but admitted that the trip also served as an opportunity to step away from the intense backlash he received on social media.
“Actually, I came here, to be honest with you, I’ll be real,” Espiritu said. “I went through some public backlash last week when I dropped a comment on Instagram. It wasn’t supposed to be ill intent, but it just blew up.”
The controversy began after fellow pageant titleholder Jether Palomo shared a video from a gathering where international candidates were asked to sing in their native languages. Palomo jokingly commented, “I pledge allegiance to the flag,” referring to the United States flag.
Espiritu joined the exchange, prompting a netizen to question why none of the Filipino representatives sang a Tagalog song despite representing the Philippines. The discussion escalated when Espiritu replied, “Because we aren’t from the Philippines. Why would we lie.”
When another user suggested that they should have represented their own country instead, Espiritu responded with the now-viral remark: “Tell that to all the front runners for the Philippines. This country wouldn’t have a chance on the national stage without us halfies.”
The statement quickly drew criticism from netizens and members of the pageant community, with many arguing that it appeared dismissive of full-blooded Filipino contestants.
Following the backlash, Espiritu deactivated his social media accounts and later issued a public apology.
Speaking during the interview in Osaka, he admitted that his comment was inappropriate.
“It was an arrogant comment. I should not have dropped that,” he said. “I do respect my country, my people. I definitely see where I went wrong. But yeah, man, I gotta take a break.”
Espiritu also shared that he has been creating lifestyle, fitness, and wellness content for nearly a decade while managing several businesses in Manila, including a wellness club, café, bar, and beach club.
Despite the controversy, he said the experience has given him time to reflect and focus on his personal growth and faith.
For his part, Eren Wayne Jr. commended Espiritu for taking accountability and publicly apologizing.
“The coolest thing about him was taking the time to apologize for the wrong things he said about Filipinos,” the content creator wrote. “He recognized his mistake and was mature enough to use the opportunity to send a positive message.”
As of writing, Espiritu remains off social media and plans to take a temporary break from the online world while focusing on himself and his family.
