Filipino influencer Emmanuelle “Emman” Atienza is facing criticism for flaunting wealth in a now-deleted TikTok video where she and her friends spent ₱133,000 (£1,777) on a dinner. The video featured a “guess the bill” game, where participants, including singer Rhaila Tomakin and Miss World Philippines Krishnah Gravidez, took guesses at the total cost of their meal at an upscale Japanese restaurant. Gravidez’s estimate was closest, and the video ended with her appearing to pay the bill, sparking outrage on social media due to the extravagance of the spending, especially in a country where the minimum wage in Metro Manila is ₱645 (£8.62).
The backlash largely centered around the tone-deafness of the video, with critics pointing out that the total bill amounted to what could cover a semester’s tuition. Specific charges, like ₱2,749.95 (£36.74) for 11 bottles of water and ₱2,249.96 (£30.06) for nine Coke Zeros, drew further ire from viewers. Given that 17.54 million people in the Philippines were living in poverty in 2023, many found the video to be insensitive and out of touch with the country’s economic reality.
Atienza, 18, who comes from a prominent family—her father is TV personality Kim Atienza, and her grandfather is former Manila mayor Lito Atienza—addressed the controversy in a follow-up TikTok video. She clarified that the dinner was for a friend’s birthday, and the meal had been paid for by an agency, not out of her pocket. Defending her actions, she stated, “Even if I had paid that much, it’s our choice and our freedom to do what we want with money that we earned.” Atienza dismissed criticism over wealth disparity, adding that she was not responsible for the economic conditions in the Philippines.
She also responded to comments urging her to “check her privilege,” acknowledging her privileged background but rejecting the notion that she alone should be held accountable for income inequality. She drew a comparison to other wealthy figures, suggesting that many celebrities, both in the Philippines and globally, spend more than she ever has without being asked to redistribute their wealth.
Krishnah Gravidez, who was also featured in the video, initially posted that the clip was intended as “satire.” However, she later issued an apology on Instagram, expressing regret for her involvement and acknowledging that she should have been more mindful of the broader societal context. Gravidez admitted, “I should have been more sensitive to what is happening around us… I’m really sorry po.”
The incident has sparked wider discussions on social media about wealth, privilege, and responsibility, especially for influencers with large followings.
