TV host Kim Atienza has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding his daughter, Eliana Atienza, and her involvement in recent pro-Palestine protests at the University of Pennsylvania.
Atienza expressed strong support for his 19-year-old daughter, a sophomore student at UPenn, and her advocacy work. He clarified that she is not aligned with Hamas. “Eliana has always been vocal about what she believes in. In this instance, she’s part of the organization that is anti-genocide and anti-war,” Atienza stated.
According to ABS-CBN, Eliana and five other students were suspended from the campus two weeks ago for participating in a protest encampment against Israel’s actions towards Hamas, which followed a deadly terror attack by the militant group. This protest was part of a broader movement seen across the United States in recent months.
Eliana faced criticism from conservative media outlets, such as Fox News and the New York Post, for her role in the protests. Reports highlighted her affluent background after she claimed she was left “homeless” due to being removed from her dormitory for her participation.
Atienza clarified his daughter’s comments, explaining, “She was technically homeless because she was removed from her dorm. Unfortunately, that message was taken out of context. She never said she was poor.”
He further noted that Eliana was not expelled from the university. “She had some academic sanctions, but she will be back in the next semester as they are on summer break right now,” he said.
