Toni Gonzaga Gets Criticized for Anti-Lady Gaga Comments on The Buzz

Pop icon Lady Gaga landed in the Philippines over the weekend for her Born This Way tour amid protests from Christian groups that her concerts be called off because her music allegedly mocks Christianity, Philstar.com reports. Lady Gaga will be holding back-to-back concerts on May 21 and 22 at the SM Mall of Asia arena in Pasay.

On entertainment show The Buzz on May 20, TV hosts Boy Abunda, Toni Gonzaga, and Charlene Gonzalez discussed the issue and agreed that it was up to people to decide what interpretation they would have of Lady Gaga's music, Interakyson.com reports. When Boy asked Toni directly for her opinion on the matter, however, she is quoted as saying, "Personally, I liked Lady Gaga before, especially yung first song pa lang niya. Pero eventually nung napansin ko na medyo nga nagkakaroon ng double meaning yung mga succeeding songs niya, I stopped listening to her music. (Personally, I liked Lady Gaga before, especially her first song. But eventually, when I noticed that her succeeding songs had double meanings, I stopped listening to her music.)"

Charlene replied that she liked Lady Gaga and that it was up to a person to "choose the good and leave out the bad."

"No, but hindi ba, you are what you listen to. Kung ano yung pinakikinggan mo, eventually, subconsciously, nagiging ganun na rin. It affects your mind, especially music (No, but, isn't it true that you are what you listen to? Whatever you hear, eventually, subconsciously, you will become like that too. It affects your mind, especially music),” Toni answered back.

This prompted Charlene to say, "I don’t agree that if you listen to a certain type of music, it will change the way you think or what you believe in life. It’s all about having the proper discernment. If you are strong to the core in your belief of who you are as a person, I don’t think if somebody does something bad, you’ll also be like that if you see or listen to it every day."

Toni asked her what a person would do if they were weak instead, but before the discussion could continue, Boy stepped in with his own views. He said he wasn't a fan of Lady Gaga but believed in freedom of expression.

Interakyson.com reports that after this portion of the show, Toni's remarks caused a stir on Twitter, causing her to land on the local trending topic list, which means a large amount of users commented on the issue at the same time.

Performing artist and Manila tour guide Carlos Celdran (@carlosceldran) tweeted, "It's the day of kabobohan. Toni Gonzaga. Ikaw pala ang tunay na Lady Gaga. Are you for real?"

"Dear ABS-CBN, shame on you for giving a Toni Gonzaga the platform to parade on national television her Antiquated Brand of Morality! #yuck," Twitter user @NuncaCalderama said.

Meanwhile, Alfonso Lopez (@ALFIEtrinket) said, "Dear Toni Gonzaga, you’re a close-minded, uneducated, unprofessional, disrespectful singer/host/artist/performer. You disgust me."

Netizens are still abuzz on Twitter today with some users also expressing their support for Toni's views. "Why hate Toni Gonzaga for commenting 'bout Lady GaGa? Do people expect every comment about @ladygaga [to] be good?" Andrea Rica (@Lierandene19) commented.

"I love Toni Gonzaga!! Continue spreading Good News!" said Roy Genesis Castro (@roygenesis).


(Photos courtesy of PEP.ph)