The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) has condemned a podcast’s discriminatory remarks about Kris Aquino’s son Josh, who is on the autism spectrum, and urged content creators to produce sensitive and ethical content.
In a now-deleted podcast episode, Tito P, one of the five male hosts of ‘Machong Chismisan,’ mocked Josh by saying ‘walang kwenta’ (worthless) while laughing.
Another host called out Tito P, describing the remark as a ‘low blow,’ which also prompted others to laugh.
The PAP said that ‘disparagement humor can reinforce prejudicial norms and contribute to the normalization of stigma,’ emphasizing that neurodevelopmental conditions should not be treated as punchlines.
‘The words used in public media shape culture. When content creators demean neurodivergent traits, they risk reinforcing prejudice and causing real psychological harm to individuals and their principles,’ it added.
It cited the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which provides that persons with disabilities should be treated with utmost respect on all platforms.
The group also urged content creators to be accountable for the content they release on their platforms.
‘Freedom of expression comes with social responsibility. While ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder] and other disabilities may affect self-regulation, a diagnosis does not automatically excuse harmful behavior,’ the PAP said.
‘Accountability should be fair and sensitive to individual circumstances. Using offensive humor at the expense of marginalized groups is ethically unacceptable,’ it added.
Machong Chismisan has apologized for its hosts’ demeanor and remarks, acknowledging that the comments made during the deleted episode ‘were inexcusably insensitive and hurtful.’
The Podcast Network then announced the termination of its contract with Machong Chismisan.