On Thursday, Pollito Tropical openly defended his friend Gino Montalvo via his Instagram stories, harshly criticizing the behavior of Fruta towards the Cuban influencer on the show Planeta Alofoke.
"I dislike how Fruta has been acting towards Gino lately. I have mixed feelings about Fruta and appreciate him, but these days it seems he has been mistreating Gino. Maybe I'm wrong, but he's crossing the line," stated Randy Álvarez, the real name behind the popular Cuban content creator.
The friendship between Pollito Tropical and Fruta began in La Casa de Alofoke 2, a reality show where they both participated. This gives Pollito's words extra weight, as they come from someone who cares about Fruta, yet felt compelled to speak out.
Pollito's message wasn't just about criticism. He also called for support for Gino: "Without holding anything back, Gino should win this reality show for many reasons, so let's keep supporting him until he wins."
Pollito Tropical joined Planeta Alofoke on April 27 specifically to support Gino, although he left the reality show just a few days later. From outside, however, he remains engaged with what happens to his friend.
The controversy with Fruta escalated after Gino was penalized on May 4, losing all his points for having a hidden cell phone in his luggage. Fruta's response was to label him a "cheater," a reaction that did not go unnoticed among the Cuban community that follows the show.
Pollito Tropical wasn't alone in speaking up. Cuban influencer Sachy Sánchez also released a video on Thursday defending Gino, with a message aimed directly at Fruta.
"Content is one thing, and disrespect is just greed," Sachy wrote in the video's description.
In the clip, the presenter admitted that she previously defended Fruta's behavior as a mere reality show strategy, but her perspective shifted: "It's becoming apparent that your frustration with not being relevant anymore is leading you to disrespect."
Sachy also reminded Fruta that Gino has given him opportunities to join his content without reciprocation: "Just because you feel obsolete doesn't mean you should target someone who hasn’t targeted you."
Her closing message was as direct as the rest: "Tone it down. Tone it down. Because it could all backfire on you."
Gino Montalvo entered Planeta Alofoke on April 13, proudly carrying the Cuban flag, and quickly became one of the show's most beloved figures. However, his journey hasn't been easy: beyond the cell phone penalty, Alofoke himself confronted him live, telling him he "didn't deserve first place," sparking a massive wave of Cuban support on social media.
Support for Gino and the Fruta Controversy
Why did Pollito Tropical criticize Fruta?
Pollito Tropical criticized Fruta for his recent mistreatment of Gino Montalvo on Planeta Alofoke, expressing that Fruta has crossed the line in his behavior.
What was the reaction to Gino’s penalty on May 4?
Gino's penalty for having a hidden cell phone in his luggage led Fruta to call him a "cheater," which sparked a reaction among the Cuban community that follows the show.
How did Sachy Sánchez respond to Fruta's actions?
Sachy Sánchez posted a video defending Gino, criticizing Fruta for disrespecting Gino and warning that his actions might backfire.