Despite SB19‘s growing popularity, even being dubbed as ‘world-class’, some of the media in the Philippines really downplays the talent that the members of the group have. During their first press conference for their single “Go Up”, inquiries from the press took it way too far.
A video on YouTube surfaced after the group was asked insensitive questions. Liza Soberano took a swipe at the heartless and insensitive questions of the press to SB19.
“Sobrang insensitive naman ng pagkakatanong.”
It all started when a member of the press asked SB19’s member Stell regarding his sexuality.
“Kanina pa ako bothered, ano ba yan Stell, ano ba yang ayos mo na yan? Talaga bang ayos mo yan o ano? Hindi na lang ginawang Stella?” asked the interviewee.
Stell clarified that they are all straight and even shared the origin of his name which came from his mother deriving his name from the famous action star Sylvester Stallone.
“Kasi po clear ko lang po, yung name ko po Stell kasi full name ko po is Stellvester po. Kasi po mama ko po, idol nya po si Sylvester Stallone. Kaya dun niya binase name ko.
“Yung style ko naman ngayon, actually hindi ko alam eh. Kung ano lang naisip ko, ito yung suot ko, sige ganito na lang buhok ko, parang ganun. Pero wala po,” explained Stell.
The media even asked whether all of them were straight, which Stell answered, “Opo.”
But the one asking the question didn’t stop. He even ridiculed Stell’s preference to wear cosmetics, which led them to presume that he is gay.
“Kasi naka-make up siya ngayon, parang bakla talaga,” added the media.
A member of the group even came to the rescue for Stell.
“Linawin ko lang po yung kay Stell, ganun lang po si Stell, meron lang po siyang manners na girly pero hindi po.”
It also led another member of the press to refrain from asking the group about their sexuality.
“At least na-clear na yung sa bading issue. Kasi sabi niyo may pa-holding hands at yakap eh. Muntik ko na tuloy itanong kung may nabuong bromance din,” said the media.
Another insensitive question came.
“Yung sa itsura nyo ay pinakialaman ba ng Korean o ano?” asked the member of the press.
In SB19’s defense, Josh, one of its members clarified that since they are a part of Korean Entertainment, the Koreans only helped them in their fashion sense.
“Given na po na part kami ng Korean Entertainment, tinulungan lang nila kaming mag-style,” explained Josh.
The media continued to throw questions at the group even stating that they are not promoting P-Pop, but only K-Pop since their songs rely on the genre.
In their defense, Pablo who was previously known as Sejun took a swipe at the person asking the question by educating him on the origins of K-Pop.
“Tungkol naman po sa K-Pop side naman na sinasabi na tunog kaming K-Pop, yung K-Pop na genre, wala naman pong nag-mamay-ari ng genre. Yung K-Pop influence siya ng J-Pop and ng American Pop. Katulad sa kanta namin, sa genre na ginamit namin, ay ang future which is ginagamit na rin ng Western and Asian countries,” Pablo said.
Moreover, Pablo reiterated the reason why people think that SB19 sounds like K-Pop is only because it is the genre that is currently popular.
“Well ang usual response kung bakit K-Pop ang tunog namin, kasi po right now, ang sikat sa buong mundo ay K-Pop. Which is hindi naman nabibigyan ng pansin yung ibang bansa na same genre din yung ginagawa,” he added.
Pablo also expressed their group’s desire to promote P-Pop and OPM.
“Sinubukan po talaga namin dito ay P-Pop, OPM. Pero po ang music po kasi universal language rin eh, walang may-ari ng certain genre. Kumbaga influence tayo ng iba-ibang bansa,” he said.
A member of the press also revealed in front of the group that he was bothered by them not sounding Filipino-like when singing.
“Hindi kayo nababahala dun sa tunog niyo na hindi kayo Filipino kundi Korean? Kasi ako bothered ako. Pero magaling kayo. Bothered lang ako kasi parang pinopromote niyo kasi is the Korean sound,” expressed the media.
Pablo in response said that since they are starting to introduce a new genre to the Filipino people, they understand that not everyone will appreciate the music they make.
“Hindi po kami nabobothered. Ako po personally, hindi ako nabobother. Tulad nang sinabi ko po kanina, starting pa lang kami. Alam namin na bago ang ginagawa namin. At talagang maninibago yung mga Pilipino sa ginagawa namin. Kasi hindi naman po ito uso sa Pilipinas,” replied Pablo.
When it comes to their frontman Justin, one of the media tried to insinuate an issue between the members of the group by comparing the appearances of each member to that of Justin.
“Nakita ko si Justin, kasi eventually yung itsura mo kasi, not to offend anyone ha? Pero meron kasing tinatawag na front man ng grupo di ba? Hindi naman ba kayo nadisappoint na si Justin iba yung looks, pag nadevelop ito, gumagwapo pa, payat nga lang kasi di ba? Eh parang siya yung magdadala ng grupo. Okay lang ba sa inyo yun?” asked the media.
But to their surprise, Josh took it as a way to get their group the exposure they needed. Also, Justin revealed that they are a group and that it’s not just about the looks but also how they function as a group.
“Okay lang naman po yun. It’s a success for us. Kasi po success ng isa, success na ng buong grupo. More exposure for Justin is more exposure for us. Mas makikilala po siya, mas makikilala po kami. Walang inggitan samin,” said Josh.
“Kaya rin po kami naging grupo kasi kailangan naming i-cover up yung mga pagkukulang, weaknesses ng isa’t-isa. Bale si Stell, main vocal po siya. Kaya niya pong i-cover yung mga weaknesses ng iba. Kumbaga meron po kaming mga roles, nagtutulungan po kami para mag-improve,” said Justin.
Despite questions that are insensitive, SB19, as a group managed to set the standards for Philippine music. Not only they are now being recognized in their homeland, but SB19’s fame has also reached the international scene. They even became the first Southeast Asian group who managed to be included in the Top 10 of Billboard Social 50 year-end chart.
In the recent RAWR Awards 2020, SB19 even won almost every category in the event such as Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Song of the Year – Alab, Favorite Performer, and Favorite Group. Their fandom A’TIN also won the Fan Club of the Year.
As of writing, their newest single What? has already reached 4.4 million views on YouTube.
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