Netizens Criticize Brandon Espiritu and Jether Palomo Over Nationality Remarks
Filipino-American pageant winners Brandon Espiritu, Mister Supranational 2024 2nd runner-up, and Jether Palomo, Mister Pilipinas Global 2025, are facing heavy criticism online after their comments about language and national identity sparked backlash among Filipino netizens.
The issue began when Jether posted a patriotic message referencing the United States flag on his social media story, which Brandon supported with a short comment. A netizen later questioned why, despite representing the Philippines in pageants, they did not sing in Tagalog. Brandon responded by explaining that they were not born in the Philippines and challenged the idea that they should pretend otherwise. He further made a remark defending their identity as mixed-heritage Filipinos, which intensified public criticism.
Many online users accused the two of being disrespectful and opportunistic, leading to calls for boycotts and the loss of social media followers. Both influencers experienced a noticeable drop in their Instagram following, while their comment sections were disabled amid the growing backlash. Some netizens also urged the public to stop supporting their business ventures and endorsements.
In response to the controversy, both Brandon and Jether issued separate public apologies. Jether acknowledged that his earlier comment was inappropriate and said he understood why it upset many people. He clarified that despite being born in the United States, both of his parents are Filipino, and he strongly identifies with his Filipino heritage. He admitted fault, expressed regret, and said the experience taught him to be more thoughtful and accountable.
Brandon also apologized, saying his comment was made impulsively and was not meant to disrespect Filipinos. He expressed pride in representing Filipino heritage and emphasized that he does not intend to diminish the achievements of Filipinos, whether full or mixed heritage. He asked for understanding and took responsibility for his words, while also requesting that criticism not affect the businesses and partners associated with him.
The controversy also led one of Brandon’s endorsement brands to publicly clarify that he is no longer connected with their company, highlighting the wider impact of the issue on his professional engagements.