Comedy has always been given more freedom than almost any other form of expression. Sometimes, that's exactly what makes it so powerful. Other times, it's what allows prejudice to fester—behind cruel jokes and outright malice.

Vice Ganda, on a recent It's Showtime segment, directed a remark at Baby Dolls member Johaira Moris—"Anong nangyari sa'yo, bakit nagputik ka?"—that many viewers interpreted as referring to her dark complexion. The remark, coupled with demeaning physical gags—like spitting on her face with a mouthful of water—left little room for plausible deniability. It drew accusations of racism and sparked conversations about the true limits of comedy. After all, how funny could a joke be when the cost is someone's identity?

As one of the Philippines' most influential celebrities, Vice Ganda has built a reputation as an advocate for equality. She has consistently used her platform to champion LGBTQ+ rights and speak against injustice. But equality is applicable to everyone, and just because you've fought for a marginalized group doesn't absolve you from bigotry towards another. Influence of that scale carries a greater obligation to abide by the same principles you advocate.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) emphasizes that the stories we consume, the characters we admire, and even the jokes we laugh at shape how we see the people around us. Therefore, repeated stereotypes in media and entertainment can contribute to discrimination by making prejudice appear ordinary rather than harmful. This phenomenon is especially observable in our country, where many still insist that racism is an "American problem.”

Furthermore, looking at Vice Ganda's history of controversies, this isn't the first time she'd been called out for her below-the-belt humor. In 2013, she had to apologize after making a rape joke, drawing condemnation from the Philippine Commission on Women, which reminded the public that rape is "not a laughing matter.”

More than a decade has passed since then, and we're not expecting Vice Ganda or any comedian to always be perfect at articulating every punchline. The beauty of comedy has always been its willingness to take risks. However, as public conversations around discrimination continue to evolve, we have every reason to expect the country's biggest entertainers to keep pace with that change—not to sacrifice the dignity and identity of a person for the sake of laughter.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) itself explicitly discourages content that promotes discriminatory or offensive behavior. If there is any meaningful outcome to come from this controversy, it should be the willingness to acknowledge why so many people found the joke harmful in the first place. With or without corrective measures, may this outrage inspire Vice Ganda to reflect and demonstrate the same openness to accountability that she has often encouraged from others.

Comedy has the freedom to provoke, challenge, and even make people uncomfortable. But it is this exact freedom that requires it to be humane, considerate, and careful. Because a joke that challenges injustice is powerful, but a joke that fuels prejudice is mere cruelty.

The Frontman