How Jed deals with fat-shaming

If you use social media, chances are you’ve heard about celebrity bashing. It is common nowadays with stars being bashed mercilessly, to the point of breaking their reputation and self-esteem, family relations and friendships. Bashers or trolls are known to mince no words in attacking their celebrity-targets. 

Jed Madela admitted he once became a victim of fat-shaming on social media. The experience was painful and deeply affected the singer in the beginning.

“It was hurting although I’m not denying that I do not have a slim body,” Jed said during his appearance in Tonight with Boy Abunda. “This cyberbullying is happening because anybody can just go to social media to tell things (against anyone). If they like to tweet that you are ugly or you are so fat, they can just get away with it because they are hiding behind their accounts.

“And what did I do? I answered back saying, ‘Yeah, wala tayong magagawa mataba naman talaga ako. Masaya ka na? What did you get for hurting somebody?’”

The way Jed responded to the negative remark revealed a person who is confident with his own body. 

It’s natural to feel offended and hurt when foul words are being aimed at you. To protect yourself from trolls and bashers, Jed has some pieces of advice, “Surround yourself with the right people because the people who know you and who understand you are the only ones who have the right to point out things to you. Those who are victims of cyberbullies, all you have to do is to just ignore them. If you can bluff, bluff kasi wala tayong magagawa ‘pag pinatulan natin sila. ‘pag sinagot mo sila masaya sila kasi binigyan mo sila ng atensyon.”

Jed is stepping into a new role as a mentor. As the head of Prime Music, he is discovering fresh, new talents. He has also made a comeback in Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids not as a judge but as the vocal mentor of the contestants.

“Mentoring is totally different from judging where we just sit behind the table and give comments. But this time, we are part of the journey of the kids from the moment they receive the icons whom they will impersonate. We teach them. Hand in hand, kami ni Nyoy (Volante). He is in charge of the actions, movements and facial expressions while I am more on the vocals like how they are going to imitate the voice of their icons.”

Jed has been working with the kids for several times already that he could now easily describe them one by one. He observed that Esang de Torres and Sheena Belarmino are professionals. He felt that Marco Masa really wants to learn. He could not deny that Onyok Pineda is a hyper kid and Chunsa Jung is sweet. He said that Krystal Brimmer is like a sponge that absorbs everything, while Noel Comia is a charmer. He agreed that Francis Concepcion, Mackie Empuerto and Kiefer Sanchez, also known as the TNT Boys, are entertaining.  

As a singer, Jed doesn’t pretend to know it all. He considered Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano and Lea Salonga as his mentors.

“I always talk to Gary and Martin but it is Lea whom I get to talk to more often. Si Martin di s’ya matipid sa papuri. He makes me feel that I’m doing the right thing.

“Gary is always there to boost you up. And Lea always tells me to, ‘Just do your thing,’ because I’m the type who has a lot of insecurities. I have a lot of questions na kaya ko ba ito maybe it’s just my personality that I need affirmation. But now I’ve learned how to laugh at myself na kapag nagkamali e de nagkamali, tao lang.”

Apart from mentoring, Jed is busy recording for his new album in celebration of his 15th year in the music scene. And while on the show, Jed gamely agreed to play the fun segment called Jed’s Unsolicited Advice for singing stars. Read on.  

Morissette: “Keep doing what you’re doing because you are on the right track.”

Moira dela Torre: “Keep writing songs and keep telling us more stories through your music.”

Kisses Delavin: “Stay sweet and never ever let the industry change you.”

Maymay Entrata: “I’m a MayWard fan and my advice for her is never ever change. You are the sunshine in the industry.”

Erik Santos: “Never doubt yourself kasi andun ka na bro, andun ka na.”

Darren Espanto: “Enjoy your youth and do not let anybody dictate your action.”

James Reid: “Continue to speak your mind.”

Daniel Padilla: “Continue to be a role model to all those who admire you. You are admirable, especially on how you treat your mom.”

Anne Curtis: “You can sing, just focus kasi ‘pag napapansin na ni Anne na nag-re-react na yung mga tao jino-joke time n’ya na agad.”

Regine Velasquez: “Don’t stop because you inspire us. She’s the reason why I’m in this industry. Quick story: I would save my allowance when I was in high school to buy my very first cassette tape and that was a Regine Velasquez cassette tape in 1990. After a week, yung boses ko umiba na pero di ko naabot songs n’ya pero naibalik ko yung boses ko. Then my aunt told me, hahanapin natin ang manager ni Regine. True enough, Ronnie Henares was my first manager and I will never forget what he told me. Sabi nya, ‘I’m going to make you my male Regine,’ (laughs).”