Posted by ReyFort Media
Lyca Gairanod has hit back at netizens questioning her political views, telling them to stop meddling in her personal life.
In a TikTok Live, the first-ever grand champion of The Voice Kids Philippines addressed the criticism that has followed her online in recent days.
“Bakit niyo ba ako pinapakialaman?” Lyca said, without mentioning anyone by name.
“Hindi ako… ayoko kasing sabihin ‘yung mga names, eh,” she said.
Lyca added that she has no faith in politics at all.
“Wala akong pinaniniwalaan in politics. That’s it. Wala akong tiwala sa politics,” she said.
The controversy started as her 2015 song “Puede Nang Mangarap” became popular again on social media. Netizens have been using the song in edits, remixes, and dance videos. Old clips of Lyca’s funny and candid interviews as a child have also resurfaced.
But the attention also put Lyca’s political stance under the spotlight. Some social media users pointed out that she was following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte on social media. Others also claimed that she unfollowed the two after screenshots of her following list spread online.
Before going live, Lyca had already made headlines for her reply to a fan’s comment. The fan told her that they would love her, as long as she did not support the green and red colors linked to the UniTeam alliance of Marcos and Duterte during the 2022 elections.
Lyca answered: “Wala akong kailangang patunayan sa inyo. I worked hard for my family. Please don’t take it personally. Love you, y’all.”
Screenshots of the exchange quickly spread online, drawing mixed reactions. Some netizens criticized her, while others came to her defense, arguing that following a politician online is not proof of political loyalty.
Lyca has not publicly confirmed which political side, if any, she supports.
This is not the first time the singer has been caught in a political debate. In March 2022, when she was 17, Lyca was part of the lineup of performers at a UniTeam campaign rally and motorcade in Las Piñas City. Her participation drew criticism from some netizens at the time, while others asked the public not to “cancel” her, noting that she was still a minor and her family’s breadwinner.
Lyca was born in Tanza, Cavite. Her father is a fisherman, while her mother collected used bottles and old newspapers to sell for extra income. At nine years old, she won the first season of The Voice Kids Philippines in 2014 under coach Sarah Geronimo, which earned her a recording contract. She went on to release songs, join Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids, and appear in various TV shows and films. She now has more than two million followers on TikTok. ( P. Lim /Push Team)
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