Vice Ganda Faces Backlash for Political Joke
VICE GANDA – The comedian and It’s Showtime host sparked both laughter and controversy during the opening night of “Superdivas: The Concert” on August 8, 2025, after making a daring joke about former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
While Regine Velasquez was singing “Hold My Hand,” Vice walked across the stage with backup dancers carrying a tarp that read “Jet ski holiday.” The scene, inspired by the viral Jet2holiday meme, quickly turned political when Vice parodied Duterte’s well-known 2016 campaign “jet ski promise” about the West Philippine Sea.
Duterte once said he would ride a jet ski to the Spratly Islands, plant the Philippine flag, and confront China. Years later, he admitted it was only a campaign joke. Vice expanded on the idea, mentioning “The Hague” and the International Criminal Court (ICC), where Duterte is now being held for cases related to his war on drugs. Mimicking Duterte’s manner of speaking, Vice created a fictional travel promo for a “jet ski trip from Manila to the West Philippine Sea” with “unlimited water bombing from Chinese vessels” and a “free trip to The Hague by the ICC,” offered only to Duterte supporters (DDS) and excluding “Pinklawans” and “BBM” supporters, ending with a curse in Duterte’s style.
The joke drew mixed reactions online. Supporters of Duterte criticized Vice for being disrespectful, with some urging Davao City to declare him persona non grata, or unwelcome. Others warned that they would mock him when “karma” comes, accusing him of using an elderly man’s downfall just to make his concert more entertaining.
On the other hand, many people praised Vice for his courage and consistency, saying they admire artists who stand by their beliefs. They pointed out what they considered a double standard—Duterte’s supporters tolerated his rape jokes and threats but reacted strongly to Vice’s comedy skit. Supporters also emphasized that Vice is an entertainer, not a politician, and that public figures should expect to be subjects of jokes.
@jaysonbet Jetski Holiday 😂 #viceganda #reginevelasquez ♬ original sound – Jayson Remoroza