Amidst the joyous New Year celebrations, an unexpected incident has become the center of attention on social media after a video of “Unkabogable Star” Vice Ganda went viral. The video, which was shot inside an airport in Hong Kong, quickly went viral and garnered mixed reactions from netizens due to the seemingly tense confrontation between the popular TV host and a woman who took the video of him.

The incident occurred in the last week of December while Vice Ganda was on his way home from a vacation in Hong Kong with his family and close friends [00:49]. As the comedian walked through the terminal, a woman was secretly filming him. But what caught the attention of many was not Vice’s presence, but the words that came out of the woman’s mouth as the camera focused on the actor.

In the audio of the video, the woman can be heard as if confused or unable to remember Vice Ganda’s name. She repeatedly says, “Ay si ano po artista… si ano ito artista ito… si ano ito… ito sikat na artista sa Pilipinas,” [00:00]. Although she greets Vice with a “Happy New Year,” it is noticeable that her voice seems unsure of who is in front of her, even though she knows that he is a popular personality in the country.

The It’s Showtime host didn’t miss a beat. Despite being polite in his greeting of “Happy New Year din ate,” Vice couldn’t resist giving a blunt scolding that showed his true feelings at that moment. Vice said, “You don’t even know me, ate,” [01:12]. This short response was quickly interpreted by netizens as a form of “scolding” or showing annoyance at the way the woman was treated.

The incident has divided public opinion. Some netizens defended the woman, saying that she was simply “starstruck” or that she suddenly forgot Vice’s name due to nervousness [02:07]. However, many believe that the woman’s tone seemed to be filled with insults or “passive-aggressive.” For some viewers, it seemed that the woman deliberately did not mention Vice’s name to annoy or get his attention in the wrong way [02:15].

The video also shows that before the conversation could get any longer, Vice’s companion immediately intervened to stop the woman from continuing to videotape her. “Enough video… enough mother,” Vice’s camp can be heard pleading to maintain their privacy and avoid any further trouble in a public place [00:20].

This vacation in Hong Kong served as a break for Vice Ganda after a busy year in television and movies. He was accompanied on the said trip by his partner Ion Perez and his family so that they could spend some quiet time there before the start of 2026. But in this era of social media, it seems like no moment goes by unnoticed, especially for an icon like Vice Ganda.

For now, Vice Ganda’s camp remains silent about the viral video and the comedian has yet to issue an official statement [02:24]. The Unkabogable Star is used to controversies, but this incident is a reminder of the limitations of being a public figure and the importance of respect between fans and their idolized artists.

Ultimately, this video has reopened the discussion about how fans should treat celebrities outside of television. While being photographed and videotaped is a part of being a celebrity, showing proper respect and acknowledgement remains an important part of every interaction. Despite the tension, many still admire the candor of Vice, who is known for being honest with himself and his feelings.