With the recent eviction of Russu Laurente, a certified DDS and pro-ABS-CBN shutdown, netizens expressed their relief on finally getting him out of the Pinoy Big Brother house. However, one of PBB: Connect’s hosts, Toni Gonzaga, defended the actions of Laurente when he agreed that the network should be shut down.
On her Instagram, she justified the actions of the housemate whom she considered as a minor.
“Back to work this 2021. For our 2nd eviction night housemate Russu was evicted because of a mistake he did that eventually made him realize the damage it has done,” wrote Toni.
“People are very quick to judge him, call him names and crucify him on social media because of it without realizing that at 19 years old, he doesn’t know the gravity of words spoken,” she added.
With this, she said that this experience will help him be more mature. She also reminded people not to judge someone through their mistakes. Instead, forgiveness is given to the former housemate.
“He has learned his lesson and this will help him grow and mature in life. And now that he knows better, He will do better. May this also serve as a reminder for us to not define and label a person by the mistakes they’ve committed but from how they rise up, rebuild and become a better person they are really supposed to be. I hugged the boy after the show and he kept apologizing. Forgiveness is a gift everyone deserves,” said Toni.
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However, with her recent statement, she is now under fire from netizens who supported the network during its franchise renewal battle.
BBE TONI trended on the social media platform Twitter after she defended Laurente. BBE is a keyword used to nominate housemates for eviction in PBB.
Her statement came back to her after she defended Laurente but was mum about the ABS-CBN franchise.
For quick to defend/justify Russu but was so silent about ABS-CBN Franchise, BBE Toni to 2366 @ABSCBN @PBBabscbn #BBEToni
— Rainbows&Unicorns (@RainGarcia18) January 4, 2021
PinoyAkoBlog, a Twitter personality, condemned Toni’s use of Laurente’s age to justify his actions. According to the personality, the ex-housemate is no longer a minor for he is 19 years old. Also, there was a much-pressing issue that when the network was forcibly closed, many Filipinos lost their jobs.
19 years old is no longer a minor. Hindi lang Isang beses siyang nagpost. People just want him evicted. Kasi nga ang daming nawalan ng trabaho ng pinasara ang network.
Yung iba tao kahit hindi nagtatrabaho sa ABS-CBN apektado sila. Yung ibang nagtatrabaho deadma lang, DDS kasi. pic.twitter.com/9cxXJ41DYP
— Jover Laurio (@PinoyAkoBlog) January 3, 2021
Some even recalled how the TV host left GMA’s Eat Bulaga for ABS-CBN. They conspired that she is used to doing what she’s done to the network.
Gonzaga, who is a supporter of President Duterte was with the network when it was shut down. However, her lips were sealed against the injustice brought upon the media giant.
https://twitter.com/iamjuandiego225/status/1345920283048251393
Moreover, several netizens wanted her to be replaced as a host of Pinoy Big Brother. She was also branded as a Marcos apologist and a Duterte enabler. Gonzaga has been the host of the reality show for 15 years.
Who wants Toni Gonzaga replaced as @PBBabscbn host? Retweet w/ BBE Toni! She is a Marcos apologist who campaigned for #MarcosTalunan, her ninong and a Duterte enabler for keeping mum about #ABSCBNShutdown. #EvictTheEnabler #ReplaceToniGinPBB pic.twitter.com/OLYvjWyKFH
— Hanash Daily #KikoBam2025 #HeidiSonny2025 (@BIENsays) January 4, 2021
Others wanted her out of the ABS-CBN compound after she was called a DDS and a Marcos apologist.
https://twitter.com/tanlodiaz/status/1345940871485689856
Another Twitter user tweeted that he’ll gladly vote Toni to be evicted as a PBB host. The fact that she supports Duterte and didn’t help in ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal battle against the government should not be part of the network.
https://twitter.com/itsmdnaga/status/1345877441131122689
Ogie Rosa also took a swipe at the PBB host who defended Laurente for his ‘mistake’ and how people judged him. Rosa, on his Twitter account also asked Toni if she also grew as a person. He also questioned whether she can speak up against the network’s closure by Duterte or not.
Toni Gonzaga: Russu was evicted because of a mistake he did…People are quick to judge him…He has learned his lesson and this will help him grow.
Eh ikaw, Toni? Have you grown? Kaya mo na bang magsalita laban sa pagpapasara ng ABSCBN? O enabler ka pa rin?
— Ogie Rosa (@ogie_rosa) January 3, 2021
Laurente who, according to him, supported the closure of the network was because of how he was influenced by his friends who hailed to the same region as he was—Mindanao.
https://twitter.com/A7FONSO/status/1345013554127065090
Russu is the second evicted housemate after he only received 4.39% of the votes.
