When Laughter Hurts: A Celebrity’s Joke About the Filipino Accent

Recently, a video went viral showing Jordanian-Egyptian actress and singer Mais Hamdan laughing at the Filipino accent on the national TV show Lahonwas, hosted by Hicham Haddad. During the show, Hamdan shared a story about a Filipina she met in Dubai. She repeated how the woman spoke English—with phrases like “Marry Christmas” instead of “Merry Christmas” and “new collaction” instead of “new collection.” The audience laughed loudly, and so did the host.

But not everyone found it funny.

Why Many Filipinos Felt Hurt

For many Filipinos, English is a second or even third language. People work hard to learn it, especially those working abroad. The woman Hamdan mocked was likely doing her best to serve customers and communicate politely. Her accent may have sounded different, but her effort was real.

Filipinos around the world reacted with sadness and anger. They felt disrespected. Some said Hamdan’s joke was unfair and unkind. Others pointed out that mocking someone’s accent—especially on national TV—is not just a joke. It’s a form of bullying.

What Happened After

After the backlash, Mais Hamdan posted an apology on Instagram. She said she didn’t mean to offend anyone and asked Filipinos not to be angry. But many felt the damage was already done. The laughter on TV had made one person’s struggle into a joke—and that hurt.

A Moment to Reflect

This story reminds us of something important: accents are part of identity. They show where we come from, what languages we speak, and how hard we’ve worked to communicate. Laughing at someone’s accent can make them feel small, even when they’re doing their best.

It’s also a chance to look at ourselves. Sometimes, even Filipinos laugh at each other’s mistakes in English. But maybe it’s time to change that. Instead of laughing, we can support each other. We can be proud of our voices, no matter how they sound.

Final Thoughts

Respect starts with listening. It starts with understanding that every person has a story—and every accent carries effort, history, and heart. Let’s make kindness louder than laughter.