Emman Atienza Denies Having a Corruption-Funded Lifestyle
EMMAN ATIENZA – The social media influencer and daughter of Kuya Kim has once again spoken out to defend herself after being accused of financing her lifestyle with corruption money.
Emman, who comes from the prominent Atienza political clan in Manila, first faced public backlash in September 2024 when a TikTok video of her “Guess the Bill” challenge went viral. In the clip, Emman and her friends playfully guessed the cost of their dinner at a luxury restaurant, which turned out to be more than PHP 130,000. The video drew sharp criticism online, with many calling the stunt “insensitive” at a time when many Filipinos were struggling financially.
Emman later clarified that the video was meant as a joke, and that the group had not actually paid the large bill since it was covered by a friend celebrating a birthday. She added that even if she had paid such an amount, it should not be an issue because it would have come from her own money. While some agreed, others questioned how she could afford such luxuries and speculated that her wealth came from her family’s political ties.
In a new TikTok video posted on August 28, 2025, Emman addressed these accusations directly. She stressed that her lifestyle is not funded by politics or government corruption. She explained that although her grandfather, aunts, and uncles are active in politics, her immediate family does not rely on them financially.
Emman credited her mother, Felicia Hung-Atienza, as the main provider of their family. She described her as a hardworking stockbroker, investor, and educator who graduated from an Ivy League university and even established two schools in Manila. Her father, Kim Atienza, is a longtime television host and anchor. Emman emphasized that the money she spends on school, travel, and personal expenses comes from her parents’ hard work, not from any political position.
@emmanatienza Replying to @eggtrails ♬ original sound – emmanuelle
To reinforce her point, she stated: “We do not get financial support from any of my extended family.” Her father, Kim, showed support in the comments section of her post, simply writing: “thank you emman.”