MANILA — Actress-vlogger Ivana Alawi drew criticism on social media after announcing a giveaway of 100 high-end smartphones linked to a promotion for an online gambling platform she endorses.
In a video posted Wednesday, Alawi documented herself purchasing 100 smartphones worth a total of P4,280,750, saying she was happy that 100 people would receive the devices.
She also thanked the online gambling platform behind the promotion, explaining that participants only needed to follow the platform’s social media page for a chance to win one of the phones.
The Facebook post quickly gained traction, amassing more than 7.3 million reactions and 5.9 million comments from users hoping to join the giveaway.
However, the campaign also sparked criticism from netizens, many of whom questioned the ethics of linking a high-profile giveaway to the promotion of online gambling.
Some users argued that the value of the prizes was insignificant compared with the potential harm of encouraging gambling, particularly among financially vulnerable Filipinos. Others expressed concern that Alawi’s large online following could expose millions of users to gambling advertisements and potentially encourage participation.
Several social media posts also warned that promotional giveaways tied to gambling platforms could entice people to sign up, despite the financial risks associated with online betting.
As of Thursday, Alawi had not publicly responded to the criticism surrounding the giveaway.