ReutersFilipino gymnast Carlos Yulo’s feud along with his mom has been making headlines in his house nation, threatening to eclipse the euphoria over his historic twin gold medal wins within the Paris Olympics.
On the centre of the disagreement is how Angelica Poquiz-Yulo managed her 24-year-old son’s funds and her reported disapproval of his girlfriend, a content material creator on TikTok.
Intense protection of the spat – which has performed out in interviews, social media posts and even a hastily-arranged press convention – has prompted many to name on the media for restraint.
Mr Yulo is simply the second Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the 2020 Tokyo games.
He’s already a neighborhood superstar and product endorser, with the dual medal haul solely elevating his profile even greater whereas stirring nationwide pleasure.
He’ll obtain a 20 million-peso ($350,000; £273,000) cash bonus from the Philippine authorities. Company sponsors have pledged to provide him a swanky condominium unit and a lifetime of free buffet meals and inasal, a neighborhood roasted rooster flavoured with lemongrass and ginger.
The capital metropolis Manila has additionally began getting ready festivities for his homecoming.
However quickly after his second gold on Sunday, studies started to floor about an interview his mom had given to a neighborhood radio station that very same day.
In that interview, Ms Yulo mentioned that opposite to allegations, she didn’t mismanage her son’s cash and had the truth is deposited it at a financial institution in Manila. She mentioned she obtained cash on her son’s behalf.
Two days later, on 6 August, Mr Yulo launched a video on TikTok, asking his mom the place his previous prize cash had gone as a result of he “by no means obtained” it.
Mr Yulo additionally mentioned his Filipina girlfriend isn’t a “pink flag” and that his mom had judged the lady due to her look and her liberal upbringing in Australia.
“My message to you, Ma, is I hope you heal and transfer on. I’ve forgiven you a very long time in the past. I pray that you’re all the time secure and sound,” Mr Yulo mentioned within the TikTok video.
‘There isn’t a excellent household’
Ms Yulo then known as for a press convention on 7 August to reply to her son’s TikTok video and supplied her hand in reconciliation.
She apologised for what she mentioned within the interview, saying “speedy questions” from the media prevented her from considering clearly.
Ms Yulo mentioned she was issuing her “remaining phrase” on her disagreement together with her son and that she was not after his cash.
“This has reached an alarming degree as a result of now, your entire nation is ready for what every of us will say subsequent, when this matter ought to have been stored personal,” she mentioned.
“I’m not an ideal mom and God is aware of that you’re not an ideal son. There isn’t a excellent household,” she mentioned.
Neither mom nor son had spoken since that press convention late on Wednesday.
TikTokOn social media, followers have known as for an finish to hypothesis over Mr Yulo’s private life, asking to shift consideration again to his historic feat in Paris.
Filipino audiences have a penchant for cleaning soap operas and gossip, particularly when it entails public figures – who they’re courting and the way they’re spending their cash.
There may be even a neighborhood slang for the chief gossip within the neighbourhood or the chat group – Marites, a standard title for a Filipina girl.
Throughout the pandemic lockdowns, then president Rodrigo Duterte joked that an excessive amount of time at house has turned the nation of 115 million individuals into the “Republic of Marites”.
However within the case of Mr Yulo, media consideration has gone too far, mentioned outstanding journalism professor Danilo Arao.
“Allow us to not dilute the excellent achievements within the 2024 Paris Olympics by reporting on trivial issues that don’t carry information values and don’t form public opinion,” Prof Arao advised the BBC.
Reporting on household feuds or private issues of personal people promotes an “unacceptable tradition of voyeurism and rumour-mongering”, he mentioned.
He mentioned protection of Yulo’s win ought to as an alternative give attention to the challenges going through Filipino athletes due to an absence of state assist.
The Yulo household feud has additionally reignited conversations on social media on the expectations for youngsters, beneath Filipino tradition, to all the time obey their dad and mom, even when they do not assume that it’s to their finest curiosity.
For now, social media customers have resumed swapping humorous memes concerning the nation’s new sports activities star.
One disinfectant model likened Yulo’s attraction to its germ-killing energy — 99.99% efficient. By no means thoughts the 0.01% that don’t like him.
For Ms Yulo, she acknowledged that hurtful phrases have been mentioned, however that they continue to be a household.
“Our house is open, whether or not or not you might have cash, the door is open in case you wish to come again,” she mentioned.
