Comedian and TV host Joey de Leon drew flak after he dismissed depression and described it as a made-up illness in the October 5 episode of the noontime show Eat Bulaga.
“‘Yung depression gawa-gawa lang ‘yan… Gawa nila sa sarili nila,” de Leon remarked.
When his co-host Maine Mendoza said that depression is not a joke, especially since a lot of young people are suffering from it who need support, de Leon persisted with his initial thought about the problem.
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“Huwag n’yo suportahan. Gawa-gawa lang nila iyon…Nagpapasosyal lang,” de Leon said. “‘Pag mayaman, depression. ‘Pag mahirap, wala, wala nang pag-asa sa buhay mo.”
One of those who reacted to his statement was Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is pushing for the Philippine Mental Health Act of 2016 to be signed into law, emphasized that the medical community recognizes depression as a mental health problem.
“Mr. Joey De Leon’s remarks, that depression is something that those who suffer from it ‘make up’ or ‘do to themselves,’ are most unfortunate and saddening,” Hontiveros said in a statement on October 6.
“It is doubly saddening that of all people, it is our artists who should be most sensitive, and more informed, about the suffering of others. That Mr. De Leon is one of our most multi-talented artists makes his remarks even more disheartening,” she added.
On Twitter, she also said: “Depression is not a self-inflicted invention. It’s real, so real that it can move one to end one’s life. Don’t trivialize it. Understand it.”
Depression is not a self-inflicted invention. It’s real, so real that it can move one to end one’s life. Don’t trivialize it. Understand it
— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) October 6, 2017
And now, the fake news site okd2.com is trying to ride on the hot issue by publishing a fake story on how de Leon allegedly said that Hontiveros has a mental health problem and it is not depression. The title of the story said that Hontiveros is paranoid.
However, de Leon has already apologized for his comment on depression after his family scolded him over it and explained to him what depression really is.
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“Nagkamali po ako. Pinagalitan ako ng misis ko. Pinaliwanang nya at ng mga anak naming,” he said on Eat Bulaga on October 6.
“Ako’y humihingi ng paumanhin sa mga napaitan sa mga nabanggit ko, at humihingi ng inyong pang-unawa,” he added.
De Leon also revealed that he called Mendoza on the evening of October 5 to apologize.
Mendoza was praised for standing up to de Leon’s insensitive remarks.
De Leon said that if there was one good thing that came out of the controversy, it was that it gave way to the discussion over depression.
Senator Hontiveros also lauded de Leon’s apology and invited him to increase awareness over depression.
“Appreciate Mr Joey de Leon for admitting his mistake & apologizing, & invite him to join us in raising awareness about mental health,” she said on Twitter.
Appreciate Mr Joey de Leon for admitting his mistake & apologizing, & invite him to join us in raising awareness about mental health
— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) October 6, 2017
Unlike what okd2.com claimed, de Leon did not call Hontiveros paranoid. He apologized over his insensitive remarks on depression and Hontiveros praised him for doing so. This is yet another addition to the list of okd2’s fake stories.
Unfortunately, some people were still duped by the story, which was shared by Facebook page Taho News.
This led netizens to bash and mock Hontiveros.
Hontiveros has become a victim of so many fake stories, some of which we’ve debunked. There were false stories about her walking out after blogger Thinking Pinoy responded to her questions during a Senate hearing, declaring August 26 as Kian delos Santos’ day, saying kidnapping is not bad if victim is unharmed, calling CPP-NPA founder Joma Sison a true hero, asking for prayers for Maute, and calling Maute the ‘epitome of courage and resilience,’ among others.
Sources: ( inquirer.net , philstar.com , gmanetwork.com )
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