Monday, March 28, 2011

Willing Willie Video Scandal: 'Macho Dancing' of Jan-Jan, a 6-year-old boy

Willing Willie host Willie Revillame is embroiled in another controversy because of his show's March 12, 2011 episode (video below) which featured him poking fun at a 6-year-old boy named Jan-Jan who was doing 'macho dancing' while he's crying.



The said episode has prompted the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to issue a letter of protest against Willing Willie, its host Willie Revillame and TV5 management.

According to the official statement by the DSWD posted on its official website this afternoon, they violated Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

DSWD is now asking TV5 management not to allow children to appear on Willing Willie.

Read the statement from DSWD:

PRESS STATEMENT of DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman on the Case of the Child “Jan-Jan” Shown in Willing Willie

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) condemns the emotional abuse and humiliation bestowed on a six-year-old child contestant, during the March 12, 2011 episode of the Willing Willie show aired on TV 5.

The sequence shows the boy gyrating in a distasteful manner with the audience, including the host (Willie Revillame), manifesting no evidence of concern or alarm for the child. This incident is clearly a violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and a blatant manifestation of child abuse. The term “child abuse” includes the following acts: “psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment,” and “any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of the child as a human being.”

Putting pressure on children to do acts such as mimicking adult sexy dances, in exchange for a certain amount of money, and at the expense of being laughed at and ridiculed by hundreds of people, clearly traumatizes the child. This is a clear form of child abuse and will not be tolerated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The Department has already communicated to ABC Development Communication Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan asking that children should not be allowed to appear in TV shows like Willing Willie, especially those capitalizing on poverty as a source of immediate entertainment. In the formal communication with Mr. Pangilinan, the Department has also rebuked the insensitive actions and remarks of Mr. Revillame.

The DSWD will look for the family, determine the effect/impact on the child and from here determine if necessary counseling and/or stress debriefing should be given to the child and his parents to prevent further trauma and abuse, especially with the media hype triggered by this incident. ### (DSWD – Social Marketing Service) March 28, 2011



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I think his parents have also violated RA 7610 for teaching their child the said dance and definitely, for bringing him in the show and allowing that thing to happen, in exchange of money.


Video courtesy of TV5 / Uploaded on Youtube by joyloveangel



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