Dannyka Manangan

Zack Tabudlo addresses online comments on his smell during his Paskuhan performance: ‘being nice isn't the hardest thing to do’

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>OPM artist Zack Tabudlo spoke up on social media after facing hurtful remarks from netizens following his recent performance at the University of Santo Tomas’ annual Paskuhan celebration in Manila. The issue surfaced after a TikTok video circulated showing the singer visibly sweaty while performing and interacting closely with the crowd, prompting some viewers to post negative comments about how he looked and allegedly smelled. </p><p>In a video posted on December 22, Zack explained that he chose to address the issue not to spark conflict, but to talk about a reality many artists quietly endure.  </p><p>“Today, I wanna talk about a certain topic that I feel like celebrities and artists don&#x27;t lean towards to, especially with their management because of their name being dragged down or just names in general and being a public figure,” he began, pointing out what he described as an unspoken rule in the industry about remaining silent even when hurtful narratives spread online. </p><p>Zack recalled the Paskuhan event as one of the most exciting shows he has experienced, describing it as energetic and memorable, especially performing for Thomasians. He explained that the viral clip captured him at the height of his performance, being all sweaty, moving constantly, and under the heat of the day. </p><div><br/></div><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@zack.tabudlo/video/7586351901441101064" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7586351901441101064" id="v36996359615670020" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v36996359615670020" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7586351901441101064?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-23T02%3A36%3A01.342278%3A35a90230-05a8-4aff-b7c4-52977bbf35e2%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:739px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>“But basically, what happened was there&#x27;s this video that&#x27;s trending of me being super sweaty… because I was performing on stage. I was jumping and it was noon time,” he shared, adding context to the situation that later became the subject of ridicule. </p><p>According to Zack, the comments that followed went beyond simple observations and became personal attacks. He noted that criticisms about his smell, appearance, and weight were painful, even for someone who has been in the industry for years. </p><p>“I think I&#x27;ve been in the industry for a while that I&#x27;ve gone through so much rumors and so much issues,” he said.  </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/8/7/zack-tabudlo-says-fame-hasn-t-changed-him-i-m-still-the-same-kid-1158"><strong>READ: Zack Tabudlo says fame hasn’t changed him: ‘I’m still the same kid’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>The OPM singer admitted that while constant criticism can numb a person, it still hurts to see the same patterns repeat. </p><p>He reflected on how the accumulation of rumors over time has affected how people see him, saying that for years, his name has been linked more to controversy than to his music. Zack candidly described the harsh stereotype he feels social media has created around him. </p><div><br/></div><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@zack.tabudlo/video/7586563778670497031" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7586563778670497031" id="v36606127315149940" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v36606127315149940" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7586563778670497031?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-23T02%3A36%3A01.342278%3A35a90230-05a8-4aff-b7c4-52977bbf35e2%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:739px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>“And to sum it all for you guys, I&#x27;m painted in social media as this smelly, ugly kid who has an attitude, who&#x27;s always late, who doesn&#x27;t dress good, who is fat, ugly and can&#x27;t sing, slams doors at people when it&#x27;s not 10:15 yet,” he said, listing the speculations he believes have unfairly defined him online. </p><p>Zack contrasted this public image with the person known by those closest to him – his family, friends, and partner – emphasizing that the online version of him is far from who he is in real life. While acknowledging the presence of trolls, he admitted that the past few years have been especially difficult. </p><p>Looking back, Zack shared how disheartening it is to see his early work and growth as an artist overshadowed by negative narratives. He noted that the image formed on social media has slowly become the stereotype people associate with him, rather than his music. </p><p>“And for the past few years, past few months, we&#x27;ve seen how bad it can go for people who can&#x27;t handle the same situation. And now all the, the dreams that I&#x27;ve worked on, which is this artist, becomes a secondary. And the first thing you guys know me of is &#x27;this&#x27; person because this is about him.” </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2025/12/20/bini-caps-ust-s-34th-paskuhan-as-thousands-celebrate-light-and-hope-0101"><strong>READ: BINI caps UST’s 34th Paskuhan as thousands celebrate ‘light and hope’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>He also pointed out how dangerous online spaces can be, especially when one viral comment can redefine a person overnight. For Zack, the noise surrounding his name sometimes overshadows the dreams he has worked hard to build. </p><p>“And now social media has become this scary place,” he said, explaining how creative expressions can quickly be judged and distorted. </p><p>Ending his message, Zack clarified that his intention was not to defend himself aggressively, but to raise awareness and remind people of empathy. </p><p>“That&#x27;s pretty much it. I just wanted to raise awareness using my platform. And guys, we&#x27;re all human. We&#x27;re all human at the end of the day.”  </p><p>Zack concluded with a simple but honest appeal: “And being nice isn&#x27;t the hardest thing to do. Be nice guys.” </p><p>Before addressing the issue, Zack even shared a candid video of himself reading the &quot;smelly&#x27; comments about him. Following this, netizens were quick to share their support and words of kindness for the singer.  </p><p>&quot;ppl are so quick to judge. mind you, they’re performing on stage with lots of lights and movement, so it’s NORMAL lang to sweat. i also worked backstage nung paskuhan and let me tell you, si Zack ang pinakamabango,” one netizen shared.  </p><p>&quot;ik it&#x27;s hard to ignore these made up issues, but i hope you&#x27;re doing okay. what i dont know is how people forget they sweat and lose/gain weight as well. these are all natural,” another added.  </p>

<p>OPM singer Zack Tabudlo broke his silence after online comments criticized his appearance and alleged odor during his Paskuhan performance at the University of Santo Tomas.</p>

OPM singer Zack Tabudlo broke his silence after online comments criticized his appearance and alleged odor during his Paskuhan performance at the University of Santo Tomas.