Actor Paulo Avelino has drawn criticism from fans of P-pop girl group BINI after making light of the group’s recent controversy involving a viral video with Ethan David and Shawn Castro. The actor posted a satirical Instagram Story that many fans deemed insensitive, especially as BINI members were in the middle of issuing public apologies.
The controversy started when a video surfaced on social media showing BINI members Jhoanna, Colet, and Stacey in a casual setting with Ethan David of GAT and soloist Shawn Castro. The footage was widely criticized by netizens for its content, prompting the artists involved to issue formal statements of apology on May 8.
BINI, in a heartfelt message, acknowledged the disappointment from fans and the public, stating, “We offer no excuse for our actions, reactions, and choice of words. We take full accountability. Nagkamali kami.”
However, just as the issue was still being processed by fans, Paulo Avelino shared an Instagram Story that appeared to poke fun at the situation. The image showed a mock apology letter from BINI, edited to reference the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI).
In the altered version, the apology was rewritten to say:
“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team, We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game.”
Though clearly a joke, the timing and context did not sit well with BINI fans, known collectively as Blooms, who found the humor disrespectful toward the group’s ongoing ordeal. Social media was quickly flooded with mixed reactions, with many accusing Avelino of being tone-deaf and trivializing a serious moment of accountability.
“This is not the time to be making jokes, especially when real people are hurting and trying to fix a mistake,” one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote.
Other comments referred to Paulo’s promotion of his movie during a Bini concert and how it did not fare well despite being shown for six weeks.
Others defended the actor, saying it was a harmless meme and should be seen as light-hearted content. Nonetheless, the post has sparked conversations about how public figures engage with sensitive issues online, especially when it involves younger artists and fan communities.
As of now, Paulo Avelino has not issued any response or clarification regarding the post.