If you follow showbiz, especially the K-pop scene, invasion of privacy should be an issue you’re already well accustomed to

If you religiously follow the showbiz industry, especially the K-pop scene, invasion of privacy should be an issue you’re already well accustomed to. Many personalities experience being stalked almost every day—with stalkers going as far as leaking flight details, hotel information, and personal photos. Some even receive death threats through their personal phone numbers.

Privacy violation is so normalized to the point where social media would regularly be filled with trending clips of idols being mobbed at airports and never-before-seen photos that could potentially stain their reputation. And while this sounds wrong on so many levels, it’s admittedly an issue that seems inevitable and almost impossible to avoid, especially for people working in the entertainment field.

But surprisingly, this absurd fan culture has eventually become a regular occurrence in the sports community, too. Case in point: the recent incident of a local volleyball team “snubbing” their supporters. Whether you’re an avid volleyball fan or just chronically online, you’ve probably already heard about it. But for those unfamiliar with the entire fiasco, here’s a quick breakdown.

On Dec. 1, professional volleyball athletes Deanna Wong, Bea de Leon, and their teammates were spotted in Boracay for an off-season vacation. Since they’re pretty popular even outside the volleyball community, especially Wong, many people watch (and judge) their every move. That’s why it really didn’t come off as a surprise when a fan-taken video instantly went viral for showing how the players purportedly ignored the people who were happily greeting them from behind the camera.

You would feel bad for the fans if you took it at face value. You would probably even agree—at least to some extent—with what TV host Kim Atienza said in a Facebook post: “This team should be advised that catering to fans is a responsibility, otherwise, stay out of the public eye and play privately. What an irritating yet sad sight.”

According to a statement released by their management, though, the volleyball stars are “respectful, appreciative, and accommodating”—a seemingly stark opposite of what the viral video implies. “Unfortunately, what is not included in the viral clip are other videos online showing the players acknowledging and talking to fans,” read the statement. While the management acknowledged that the team could have handled the situation better, they also warned those people who are posting malicious stuff as it “[puts] the wellbeing of [the] athletes at risk.”

Unpacking the toxic fan culture in the local sports scene

Sure, a simple wave, smile, or even a mere nod of acknowledgment could’ve sufficed. But here’s the thing: These players already had a fair share of mishaps involving their fans. 

Last April, Wong’s supporters camped outside her house in Cebu, so her mom took this concern to social media. “How can we go to church with these many people waiting outside our gate? Some of them even came from Mindanao and other parts of Visayas. Some were already here as early as six in the morning,” she wrote in Cebuano. Despite the obvious case of privacy invasion, the volleyball star still managed to accommodate them.

While it’s true that not everyone crosses the line and just genuinely wants to be noticed by their faves, how exactly would they know every fan’s intention?

Even Wong’s teammate and star libero Denden Lazaro expressed her disappointment towards fans who kept on interrupting their warm-up sessions by asking Wong to dance or look their way. Lazaro hosted a livestream sometime in August and let out her frustrations. “She’s not there to dance for you. She’s not there to sing for you. She’s not there to entertain you. She’s there to play volleyball,” she voiced with evident exasperation. “We’re here for a job—for our work. It’s not a mall show.”

Taking these incidents into consideration, can we really blame the ladies for being guarded around fans? For once, we could drop the entitlement and see things from their point of view. They’ve already had a series of encounters where “fans” had disrespected their privacy. While it’s true that not everyone crosses the line and just genuinely wants to be noticed by their faves, how exactly would they know every fan’s intention?

POV: You’re the public figure everyone wants a notice from

People who reacted negatively to the incident have been echoing the argument, “Without fans, they’re nothing.” Because of this, they could at least offer acknowledgment through a greeting, as a sign of being thankful. As much as that point makes sense, try putting yourself in their shoes if you think the same. 

What would you rather do: accommodate the fans and ruin what was supposed to be a relaxing day off, or prioritize yourself and just let them think whatever the fuck they want? Whatever the case, you would be stuck in a no-win situation and would end up compromising yourself

Let’s say you’re a celebrity who went out to run some personal errands. You’ve had a rough couple of days, so you decided to treat yourself to a solo date while at it. Wearing your most laid-back outfit and a mask, you were so certain that you’d blend just right in with the crowd. You didn’t even bring your manager or bodyguards with you, thinking that would only attract more attention. Everything was going smoothly and no one had recognized you yet—until suddenly, someone came up to you and asked for a selfie. 

Would you say yes? But what if more people recognize and mob you for photos and autographs? Not only would that disturb your “me time” but the unknowing passersby as well. Then again, declining their request would likely make them think you’re a snob; and the next thing you’d know, you’re already trending on social media with people attacking you for your “rude” attitude.

Now, what would you rather do: accommodate the fans and ruin what was supposed to be a relaxing day off, or prioritize yourself and just let them think whatever the fuck they want? Whatever the case, you would be stuck in a no-win situation and would end up compromising yourself.

See, that’s what a public figure has to deal with on the daily. Indulging fans comes with the job, that’s true, but there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed. While they can always just politely explain how they wouldn’t want to be interrupted in their personal time, that wouldn’t even be necessary if fans only know (and acknowledge) their limitations.

Being a public figure shouldn’t be a 24/7 job

Just like any other regular job, being a public figure (except politicians and public servants) shouldn’t be a 24/7 job. Want to interact with your faves? There are appropriate avenues for that—fan meetings, livestreams, concerts, and mall shows, among others. So, if you randomly meet them in their downtime, it would be best not to intrude into their personal space. That’s common courtesy.

They have lives out of the spotlight and being a public figure doesn’t mean they aren’t entitled to normality anymore. As Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio once said in a TikTok video, “When we’re out, it’s not as if we’re out to engage [with] people. It’s really more of running errands or being with ourselves.” She added: “Seriously, sino bang tao ’yung gustong magpa-picture 24/7 ng buhay niya? (Seriously, who would want to get photos of themselves taken 24/7?) When we’re out, we’re actually doing normal people things.”

[Public figures] are humans and not robots programmed with the sole purpose to serve us their time and attention

To make things simpler, think of it this way: How would you feel if a client messaged you beyond working hours, asking you to attend to an urgent matter? How would you respond? And what if it happens constantly, every single week, with no letup? I bet you’d get annoyed—because I honestly would, too. Sure, dealing with a fan is different from dealing with a client or a boss, but the principle is the same. I mean, who in the right mind would want to work at a time meant for personal affairs, right?

The bottom line is public figures deserve privacy as most people do. It’s high time we realize that they most likely have responsibilities and duties outside their job, too—and the least we can do as fans is grant them the space they need to fulfill those. After all, they are humans and not robots programmed with the sole purpose to serve us their time and attention.