Kapuso Drama King Dennis Trillo earned praise online after firmly but calmly responding to a basher who called him “bading” in the comments section of his social media post.
The incident started after Dennis shared a video of himself playing a boxing arcade machine at a mall arcade and video game center. In the clip, the actor showed impressive punching power, prompting admiration—and jokes—from netizens.
“Kanina pa ako nanggi-gigil dito eh,” Dennis wrote in the caption.
Many followers applauded his “boxing skills,” with comments comparing him to boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and even joking about using the machine as stress relief against corrupt politicians.
However, one netizen attempted to provoke the actor by calling him “bading.” Dennis did not let the comment slide and responded directly: “Eh ano naman kung bading? May problema ka sa mga bading? Mga beshie, kayo na bahala dito kay (name ng netizen) ha?,” he wrote.
His reply was met with widespread support, with many netizens defending the actor and praising him for calling out homophobia without resorting to insults.
While Dennis is straight and married to Jennylyn Mercado, he has long been recognized for his powerful and respectful portrayals of LGBTQIA+ characters in film and television.
His breakthrough role came in the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival entry ‘Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita’, where he portrayed a transgender woman. The performance earned him the Best Supporting Actor award and additional recognitions from various award-giving bodies.
In 2013, Dennis further cemented his versatility with the hit GMA Network series ‘My Husband’s Lover’, where his portrayal of a man in a same-sex relationship—alongside Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana—sparked national conversations and received critical acclaim.
Currently, Dennis is seen in the GMA Prime series ‘Sanggang Dikit FR’, which has been extended due to strong viewer reception.
