Jeon Cyrus, a Cebuano impersonator known for his participation in the “KalokaLike” segment of “It’s Showtime,” has addressed the backlash and criticism he received following his September 3 performance where he impersonated Stell Ajero of the P-pop supergroup SB19.
After appearing on the Kapamilya noontime show, Jeon faced a barrage of negative comments, not only directed at his appearance but also concerning Stell, the idol he chose to impersonate. The online criticism prompted Jeon to take to Facebook to express his feelings and announce a temporary break from social media due to the intense negativity.
“I’m quite sensitive to hurtful words, but I prepared myself for the possibility of negative comments before accepting the offer to be seen on national TV,” Jeon shared in his post. He expressed that while the jokes about his appearance did not upset him, the accusations of causing more hate towards Stell deeply affected him.
“What really broke my heart is seeing people create stories that somehow, because of me, Kuya Stell might face more bashing,” he explained, noting that some fans felt his appearance might fuel further negativity towards Stell, who had recently been involved in discussions about “fame shame” and “visual” issues.
Jeon clarified that it was ABS-CBN who invited him to participate in the segment, viewing it as an opportunity to showcase his talents and honor SB19. “I did my very best to give everyone a great show through my talent. But please, stop accusing me of fueling the fire that might bring more negativity towards Kuya Stell,” he pleaded.
Despite the criticism, Jeon expressed his gratitude to his supporters, especially his fellow SB19 fans, known as A’TIN, and his group, “TITANS”. He thanked them for their unwavering support and hoped his performance made them proud.
In the comments section of his post, Jeon received an outpouring of support from fans who praised his bravery and dedication to his craft.