#ByeShopee and Hello Lazada trend after Toni Gonzaga is announced as new Shopee brand ambassador
Rival online shopping platforms Lazada and Shopee trended on Twitter after the latter teased, then confirmed, actress and TV host Toni Gonzaga as its new brand ambassador.
The hashtags #BoycottShopee and #ByeShopee trended on social media following promotional videos that teased Gonzaga joining as an ambassador for the company.
Gonzaga is a vocal supporter and active campaigner of the Team Unity political party, particularly President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. Marcos was also the godfather at her wedding to director Paul Soriano.
Many netizens vowed to uninstall the Shopee app and use Lazada exclusively from now on. Others called on current Shopee users to do the same.
Critics have hit out against Shopee for choosing somebody they perceive as “problematic” at a time when the shopping platform has been reducing its work force in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
Lazada trended, too, when netizens vowed to switch to Lazada and use it exclusively for their online shopping needs. In response to the social media buzz, Lazada announced a giveaway of P500 vouchers to 10 winners.
But Gonzaga appeared unfazed by the amount of backlash she’s received.
At a media event where she was officially announced as a Shopee Philippines ambassador, Gonzaga thanked Internet users for the online engagement preceding the launch.
“Since yesterday we are trending, today we are grateful for our netizens for the mentions and engagements, they are the reasons why we are here today,” the host said.
