On July 17, actor-rap artist Carlos Agassi’s comeback music got called out for its transphobic lyrics.
Agassi recently shared an excerpt of his rap song titled ‘Milk Tea’ via Twitter.
The lyrics of the song towards the end of his explicit music video had lines depicting a negatively portrayed encounter with a transwoman, which he initially thought of as a cis-woman.
https://twitter.com/amiragassi/status/1677682622888284161
It sparked numerous reactions from netizens, including prominent trans personalities.
Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan acknowledged that the actor-rap artist was trying to revive his career but urged him to do it right.
Dear @amiragassi ,
I understand that you may be trying to revive your showbiz career or at the least, be relevant, but I suggest, do it right!
The ingredients to how people bounce back in life: real talent, hard work, charisma, and treating people right. Work on these!
— Miss Mela Habijan (@missmelahabijan) July 18, 2023
Because with all due respect, Mr. @amiragassi , setting aside my objective opinion that your song and video are of poor quality, attempting to be funny at the expense of trans women (or what you call “binabai na may venting milk tea”) is of low, inhumane standards.
— Miss Mela Habijan (@missmelahabijan) July 18, 2023
Only the desperate will make fun of others to make them look good.
Nothing beats kindness. I hope and pray, @amiragassi, that you start practicing it.
— Miss Mela Habijan (@missmelahabijan) July 18, 2023
Other netizens criticized the actor-rap artist for being ‘transphobic.’
https://twitter.com/npclgs/status/1680850912959672321
https://twitter.com/kumadotkenny/status/1680777838751006721
https://twitter.com/fabgelous/status/1680708909345177600
TRANSPHOBIC AMPOTA https://t.co/WR9NZOsMkv
— TINY Little Mini Itsy Bitsy DELUXE (@TinyDeluxee) July 17, 2023
Ang babastos naman ng mga heterosexuals. Gusto nila may sarili din silang sogie bill para pantay daw lahat pero ganito ginagawa nila??? This offends me.
Kung gusto ng mga heterosexuals na respetuhin sila, sana ka respe respeto naman sila. Nakakabastos to. https://t.co/v5am4Ahhwg
— ad (@diapolym) July 17, 2023
Some also called out the ‘outdated’ lyrics in Agassi’s rap song.
Saw that MV clip ni Carlos Agassi, napaka outdated ng lyrics??? Transphobic pa, tulad na lang nung area kung san matatagpuan yung Filling Station. Ew.
— M1ss Tsubo Angsu So (@bibongtsubibo) July 17, 2023
One netizen referred to the Php 10,000 Agassi was supposedly giving away for liking and sharing his music while slamming the quality of the rap song.
that was the worst 39 seconds of my life
please pay me 10k for wasting my time https://t.co/Z6dJ2aZTc1
— ZJ (@zajerel) July 17, 2023
Agassi responded to the comments on his Twitter account, noting how mocking someone would get an equal response. He also claimed that those making a big deal out of the lyrics were perpetuating issues about his song.
https://twitter.com/amiragassi/status/1681241259770519558
https://twitter.com/amiragassi/status/1681239949432205313
As of this writing, his post currently has 2.3 million views on Twitter.
Agassi was part of ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Batch 3 and was the only rapper among his batchmates.
He was a member of the male group ‘The Hunks’ alongside Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, Diether Ocampo, and Bernard Palanca. He hosted the reality prank show similar to MTV’s ‘Punk’d’ titled ‘Victim’ and co-starred with Claudine Barretto in the Kapamilya series ‘Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggang’from 2001 to 2003.
Agassi founded the Amir Carlos Agassi, Inc, where he created his rap songs and collaborated with other artists.
Some of his rap songs include ‘Showbiz Rapper,’ ‘C.A.R.L.O.S,’ ‘The Amir of Rap,’ and ‘Na Na Na.’ His rap music is currently available on Spotify.
