Amidst ongoing controversy in the Dominican reality show Planeta Alofoke, Cuban contestant Gino Montalvo once again found himself at the center of a storm. This time, fellow contestant Anthony Peguero, also known as "Liguita," sparked outrage by telling Gino to "go back to your country" during a show segment. The comment quickly ignited a wave of indignation among viewers and the Cuban community abroad.
Gino's social media account captured the moment, accompanied by the caption: "I'm the focus of their content, a bunch of tasteless individuals."
The video clip soon garnered over 80,000 views, 11,527 likes, and 870 comments within hours. Many viewers condemned Liguita's remark as xenophobic, calling for the show's production team to take action.
"When Liguita said 'Go back to your country', it crossed the line from content to racist and xenophobic commentary," a follower directed at Santiago Matías, the show's creator.
Another user was more blunt: "Telling someone 'go back to your country' is utterly disrespectful. Respect knows no nationality. Today it was a Cuban; tomorrow, it could be anyone. This is xenophobia and should not be tolerated."
The uproar united Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans under the hashtag #TeamGino, demanding justice and pushing for Gino to rise to the top of the rankings.
"From day one, everyone has been against him for no reason," another comment read.
The irony didn't escape many: while Liguita ranked ninth with just 36,231 points as of May 20, Gino led the pack with 134,740 points, surpassing Carlos Montesquieu (132,948) and Nacho Estrella (129,997).
"He's the content of everyone. Without Gino, there is no planet," a supporter summed up.
This isn't the first time the Cuban artist has faced challenges on the show. Santiago Matías himself publicly questioned Gino's top ranking during a live broadcast.
Despite the setbacks, the Miami-based drag queen and impersonator, known for mimicking Shakira and Beyoncé, bounced back to top the competition, which offers a grand prize of $250,000 over its 55-day run.
Fans are now urging the hosts to take concrete action against Liguita in the next prime-time broadcast for his offensive comment.
Controversy Surrounding Planeta Alofoke
What did Liguita say to Gino on Planeta Alofoke?
Liguita told Gino to "go back to your country," which sparked widespread outrage and was deemed a xenophobic comment.
How did the audience react to Liguita's comment?
The audience reacted with outrage, calling the comment xenophobic and demanding that the show's production take action against Liguita.
Has Gino faced similar controversies before on the show?
Yes, Gino has previously faced challenges on the show, including public questioning of his top ranking by the show's creator, Santiago Matías.