The Gabriela Women’s Party has urged the producers of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0 to enforce stricter rules and introduce gender-sensitivity training for housemates following a controversy over lewd and inappropriate jokes made inside the PBB house.
In a statement this week, the women’s party-list said the incident — in which some male housemates were criticized for making sexually suggestive comments and objectifying female participants — highlighted deeper cultural concerns about “birong bastos” (off-color or crude jokes) becoming normalized among young people.
“Not all jokes are funny, especially when they objectify another person,” Gabriela said, stressing that such remarks can perpetuate everyday sexism and disrespect toward women — issues that resonate far beyond the reality show.
The group specifically urged PBB management to require gender-sensitivity seminars for all housemates to help them better understand consent, personal boundaries, and the impact of sexist behavior. It also called on the program to incorporate guided discussions on these topics so that viewers — particularly young audiences — can learn why objectifying comments are harmful even if they are presented as jokes.
Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago personally weighed in on the issue, calling for PBB to uphold respect for all housemates and condemn inappropriate remarks, especially those that create an uncomfortable environment for women inside “Bahay ni Kuya.”
The party-list also said it is open to collaborating with PBB’s producers to help integrate more robust gender education into the show, reflecting a broader push to reinforce respectful interactions and challenge entrenched sexist attitudes in media and society.
The controversy began after female housemates raised concerns about “green jokes” and catcalling-style comments from some male housemates, sparking public debate about boundaries and respect within the PBB community.
Gabriela’s call comes as viewers and advocacy groups increasingly scrutinize how popular media portray gender, consent, and interpersonal dynamics — especially in long-running reality shows with wide youth appeal.
