Following the recent Independence Day program held in Busan, Korea, where SB19 performed, Philippine volleyball player Sisi Rondina, along with her team members from Alas Pilipinas, was shortly interviewed and asked if they were excited to see anyone perform on stage.
Rondina, who was holding the microphone, was beside Jia De Guzman who pointed to the fans who screamed for SB19.
“SB19 daw po,” Rondina said, thereafter she added “Bhie, Starbucks lang alam ko.”
What seemed like a harmless side comment was turned by an A’TIN (SB19’s fandom name) into a feud. The fandom took to X (formerly known as Twitter) that Rondina’s comment was offensive.
In a now-deleted post, which was screen-grabbed by another user, an A’TIN user shared that she messaged Rondina directly. Attached to the tweet was a screenshot of the volleyball player’s apology.
“Ay sorry po if na offend ko po kayo. Pasensya na po. Noted lahat sinabi nyo po. Sorry po [Sorry if you guys got offended. I’m sorry. I noted everything you said. Sorry],” Rondina wrote.
A commenter responded and pointed out that Rondina’s apology sounded “sarcastic.”
“Nah. It sounds sarcastic to me. Pero baka ako lang to at sincere talaga siya. Well anyway, focus na lang tayo sa more important things like voting and streaming [But maybe it’s just me and she’s really sincere. Well anyway, let’s focus on more important things like voting and streaming].”
Rondina quickly extinguished the growing fandom feud between the Philippine volleyball community and A’TIN as she went live on Instagram. She admitted that she really didn’t know who SB19 was but still apologized to anyone she had “offended.”
Some users clapped back at some A’TIN for their behavior and how “arrogant” they have become.
“Sisi went on live just to apologize to these people? Who are you? AGAIN, WHO ARE YOU? I don’t hate the artists, but this so-called fandom needs to be called out for being so arrogant and thinking everyone should know their idols.
#SB19FansApologizeToSisi,” one user wrote.
Sisi went on live just to apologize to these people? Who are you? AGAIN, WHO ARE YOU? I don't hate the artists, but this so-called fandom needs to be called out for being so arrogant and thinking everyone should know their idols.#SB19FansApologizeToSisi pic.twitter.com/x3MiKqBm2i
— Zero (@usernametwozero) June 9, 2024
The leader of the Ppop boy group SB19 Pablo released his statement and highlighted the goal of the boy group: to elevate Filipino culture to the global stage.
Atin ‘to lahat! pic.twitter.com/XsjUpgj5Jz
— PABLO (@imszmc) June 9, 2024
SB19 Pablo added, “Respect and acknowledge that not everyone is aware of our group. And it’s not all the time, everyone will hold a favorable opinion on us. THAT’S FINE!” He encouraged followers to stop spreading hate and the colonial mentality in the Filipino community.
“Mabuhay ang Kulturang Pinoy! Happy Independence day!” he wrote at the end.
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