Ad pullouts hit Willie show Bishops also bear down on TV host

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Ad pullouts and the displeasure of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) are bearing down on the TV game show “Willing Willie” over a 6-year-old boy’s performance of a “macho dance” in March.

Procter & Gamble Philippines, through its consumer relations manager Sol Liboro, on Friday said it had “suspended advertising on the show beginning April 7 while the incident is being reviewed and investigated by authorities.”

Unilever Philippines has also decided to temporarily suspend ad placements in the show effective April 11, but clarified that the move would cover “all reality-based live game shows across all networks.”

“This measure will be in place until we observe stricter and objective self-regulatory guidelines across networks and proper enforcement by the relevant government agencies of existing content regulations,” Unilever said in a statement.

At press time, the Inquirer learned the controversial TV host is going on leave and the show will be off the air for two weeks starting Monday, April 11. Revillame announced his decision late Friday in “Willing Willie”. (See related story on this channel).

In a statement, he said there are people who are out to destroy his career.

The boy tearfully performed the “macho dance” before a cheering audience in the March 12 episode of the show hosted by Willie Revillame and aired live by broadcast network TV5. He was handed P10,000 by Revillame for his performance.