Actress and TV host Kim Chiu has once again warned the public about the dangers of fake news after a netizen falsely accused her of making a remark about former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.

Spread fake news about Kim Chiu and Vhong Navarro—enjoying newfound social media fame?

The netizen, who initially spread the misinformation, later apologized but seemingly took pride in the engagement boost he gained from the controversy.

A Facebook user named Wilson Mapa Taganile Jr. posted a public apology to Chiu on March 12 after realizing that he had misinterpreted her ‘It’s Showtime’ spiel.

“Humihingi po ako ng sorry Ma’am Kim Chiu. Script lang pala ‘yung ‘deserve’ na sinasabi mo. Sabi kasi ng asawa ko, si Duterte pinaparingan mo. Inaasar lang pala ako ng asawa ko kaya na-post ko. Kala ko po si Tatay Diggs ang pinatamaan mo. Taos-puso ko pong humihingi ng sorry, Ma’am. Binura ko na po, Ma’am. Buti hindi galit si Ma’am Kim Chiu.”

However, despite his apology, Taganile boasted about the engagement his false post received, seemingly celebrating the increased attention on his page.

“Basta kay Papa God ka lang magtiwala at samahan ng dasal, walang imposible,” he wrote, further thanking his followers for the increase in engagement due to the incident.

Following the controversy, Kim Chiu took to Instagram on Thursday, March 13, to share her thoughts on the rapid spread of fake news and its harmful effects.

“No storm lasts forever, and neither will your struggles. Rise, push through, and show the world the unshakable force within you,” she captioned a video of herself running, seemingly referring to the recent controversy.

She then reminded the public about the serious consequences of misinformation, particularly in the entertainment industry.

“Just a reminder: Fake news is spreading so fast, and a lot of people — including us in the entertainment industry — are getting hurt because of it.”

Chiu urged netizens to be more responsible when consuming and sharing information, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking before reacting or posting online.

“Let’s choose truth over lies and kindness over hate,” she added.

Chiu’s ‘It’s Showtime’ co-host Vhong Navarro was also dragged into the controversy after his own “deserve” spiel from the noontime show was misinterpreted by some social media users.

Navarro denied any political intent behind his statement, clarifying that he was simply reading the script assigned to him.

“Wala po akong masamang intensyon,” he stated.

The recent incidents involving Chiu and Navarro underscore the growing problem of fake news and misinformation in the digital space. As social media continues to be a primary source of information for many, public figures like Chiu are urging netizens to practice responsible social media usage to prevent misinformation from spreading further.

While the netizen has already retracted his false claim and apologized, his apparent enjoyment of the engagement boost raises concerns about how easily fake news can be weaponized for online clout.