The OPM band MYMP (Make Your Momma Proud), specifically their vocalist and guitarist Chin Alcantara, has become the target of criticisms and accusations for being a racist after their Halloween performance.
On October 30, MYMP performed through a live stream on their Facebook page, which was eventually removed.
In the said live stream, they were dressed up following the Halloween theme. However, the costume of Chin caught the attention of netizens as he used blackface.
He defended himself from the backlash but even triggered the anger of netizens and fellow celebrities after belittling the Black Lives Matter movement for calling it ‘kalokohan’.
“Kasi sini-single out ninyo lang eh. Of course, ‘yung lives din natin nagma-matter, wala naman kasi dapat kulay. All lives matter.”
Fellow celebrities and other netizens express their ire over this racist remark of Chin.
Journalists Chiara Zambrano, Jules Guiang, Kevin Manalo, Mike Navallo, and Jeff Canoy expressed their disappointment with Chin’s insensitivity.
Chiara and Jules said what he did disproves the band’s name “Make Your Momma Proud” supposing that his mom won’t be proud of him being a racist.
Make Your Mama Cringe https://t.co/9v700EA9VD
— Chiara Zambrano (@chiarazambrano) October 30, 2020
surely you didn’t make your momma proud right there tsk tsk https://t.co/HJqOHBVRmX
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) October 30, 2020
Kevin Manalo also believes that Chin needs to be educated and be taught about the value of respect.
Somebody needs to educate Chin of MYMP about respect.
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) October 31, 2020
Juris' voice was the only reason I listened to MYMP. Without her, there's nothing to be proud of.
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) October 31, 2020
Jeff Canoy believes that Chin’s ignorance about the topic is the reason why seems to be a racist.
This is what racism looks like. And the ignorance behind it. And how to make your mama ashamed. https://t.co/1yQbGdTAVJ
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) October 31, 2020
“Blackface is part of a history of dehumanization, of denied citizenship, and of efforts to excuse and justify state violence.”https://t.co/PTmXdFJtXQ
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) October 31, 2020
Jerald Napoles also questioned Chin for invalidating people who campaign or support the BLM movement.
Tangena bakit ganyan tol? May pinaglalaban yung mga black people tapos sasabihin mo kalokohan ang Black Lives Matter??? Nak namputa sino nagbigay sayo ng ganyang lakas ng loob???
— Jerald Napoles (@IamJNapoles) October 31, 2020
Kerwin King, Janina Vela, and Chai Fonacier then tried to clarify the relevance of the BLM movement in our society.
They believe that though all lives matter, but black people are the ones who experience discrimination, oppression, and being labeled as the lowest form of society.
The more I listen to this, the more stupid it sounds. Hindi po kalokohan ang BLM, sir. The movement exists because of systemic oppression. They were discriminated, mistreated and killed. This is just disrespectful. Now we all know why Juris left. https://t.co/EdBCrDM4sy
— Kerwin King (@imkerwinking) October 30, 2020
the black community spent centuries being treated as LESS. BLM is not about being MORE than other races, it’s simply about being seen and treated as EQUALS.
HINDI PO SIYA KALOKOHAN. hindi ako makapaniwala na kailangan pa ‘tong i-explain.. https://t.co/4FM3J36CTL
— Janina Vela (@janinavela) October 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/rabidcatbanshee/status/1322227466421743616?s=20
Chin Alcantara (MYMP): “Pag may nagsasabi ng Black Lives Matter, KALOKOHAN YON. Kasi all lives matter.”
Chin, BLM is a movement advocating against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against black people. Are you Making Your Mama Proud? Maybe not. pic.twitter.com/5pgL7LLvQW
— ricci (@ricci_richy) October 31, 2020
Thank you to whoever edited the Wikipedia page of MYMP. Instruments: RACISM. Chin Alcantara Shut the fuck up. pic.twitter.com/33VzVdyiCZ
— Arch (@rantsss9) October 31, 2020
On his official account, MYMP musician Chin further defends his Blackface act, using textbook right-wing lines such as BLM is just propaganda to sow unrest, and racist logic such as yes there’s racism somewhere, but this is just for Halloween, so stop being dramatic. https://t.co/O3kIMIscsg
— Chiara Zambrano (@chiarazambrano) October 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/RizalNaWalangL/status/1322368187292295169?s=20
https://twitter.com/kepolnim/status/1322381537770266625?s=20
Using blackface as a Halloween costume is an insensitive act against Black people. Black Lives Matter is a movement that aims to eradicate racism, violence, and discrimination against the Black race.
Moreover, this was not the first time that Chin made a controversial remark. To recall, he, who is a DDS, accused ABS-CBN of planning to assassinate President Duterte since their Plan A, the ouster of Duterte through a people power-like revolution.
His ‘conspiracy theory’ was disaffirmed by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, saying that they did not receive any threats.
