In an interview with blogger and songwriter Lester Ramos, Tawag ng Tanghalan Celebrity Champions Contender Joed Serrano shared that It’s Showtime’s management chose who will be on stage on a specific day, but contenders were free to choose which song they would like to perform.
Lester asked Joed if he ever had the chance to ask why Ate Gay was not part of the presscon, here’s what Joed has said: “Siguro, tingin ko lang, dahil sila ‘yung namimili nung araw kung kailan kami, siguro hindi pwede yung artist nung araw na ‘yon, parang ganun. Parang wala naman ata kami right to choose what day we want, kami ‘yung shina-shuffle, tingin ko ‘yun. Marami din wala eh.”
Furthermore, Joed clarified that there were other contenders who were not even part of the presscon but they still got the chance to perform on stage.
“Like ako, nung araw na lumaban ako, tatlo ‘yung kalaban ko, wala naman sila sa presscon. Feeling ko nagkaroon ‘yan ng conflict sa schedule ng artista, feeling ko lang ‘yun talaga.”
During the last part of the interview, Joed confirmed that Vice Ganda had nothing to do with Ate Gay’s dismissal from the competition.
“Ako tingin ko diyan, Vice had nothing to do with it. Hindi naman niya siguro pinakikialaman ‘yung show, I mean kaya nga may director. I think there’s no room for Vice to be insecure, Vice Ganda na siya, ang layo.”
In line with the issue of people accusing the Unkabogable Star as the reason Ate Gay was no longer part of the segment, Joed stated that Vice should not feel insecure since they have different identities.
“Vice Ganda mai-insecure kay Ate Gay? I mean Ate Gay has his own identity and pangalan, he’s mash-up queen, iba naman si Vice. Kung kay Ate Gay ganon, sino naman kay Lyka, si Karylle? Si Anne, oh di ba?”
