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Filipino Social Media Personalities React to TikTok Ban in the US

Several Filipino content creators shared their reactions regarding TikTokโ€™s ban in the United States.

Bretman Rock, Bella Poarch

Photo: Bretman Rock and Bella Poarch/Instagram

The popular platform, used by 170 million Americans, officially went offline in the US on Saturday night (or January 19 Philippine Time), less than two hours before the ban was scheduled to go into effect. Users were met with the message that reads: โ€œSorry, TikTok isnโ€™t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you canโ€™t use TikTok for now.โ€

In light of TikTok’s ban, here are some final messages and videos shared by Filipino social media personalities living in the United States.

1. Bretman Rock

Before the ban, Bretman Rock shared a TikTok video of himself making a matcha latte. The 26-year-old beauty influencer has 17.8 million followers on the platform.

@bretmanrockMoodโ™ฌ original sound – bretmanrock

Hours later, the Hawaii-based content creator posted an Instagram story.

Bretman Rock

Photo: Bretman Rock/Instagram Story

2. Otakoyakisoba

Oliver of Otakoyakisoba, who is best recognized for the “Name That Celebrity” videos and other relatable comedy stints that he produces with his family, mourned TikTok’s ban.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Oliver (Olly) (@otakoyakisoba)

“Mourning the loss of TikTok US 2016-2025. The place where EEDJIOT, Mama LuLu, Carc**chie Board, Lesbean, Your Father and our family was born on social media 11/28/2019. Thank you for all the years.ย @tiktokย @tiktokcreators,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

The American-Filipino social media influencer, who has 17.6 million followers, assured fans and viewers that their viral content will be reposted on other platforms.

“I will be repurposing/reposting all of our viral TikToks on Reels and YouTube Shorts in the upcoming days. Stay tuned,” he wrote in an Instagram story. “I know many people haven’t seen many of them or came here from TikTok and are looking for them.”

The Filipino content creator also thanked its community for being a part of their journey: “We got our start here on TikTok and weโ€™ll always miss it! Sad it had to end this way, but weโ€™ll forever be thankful. November 2019 will always be a special month for us. We wouldnโ€™t have gotten the opportunities and love if it wasnโ€™t for all your support. Thank you.”

3. Bella Poarch

Filipino-American singer and social media personality Bella Poarch posted a 26-video of herself singing. She has 94.2 million followers on TikTok.

@bellapoarchโ™ฌ original sound – Bella Poarch

“This might be my last post on here before the ban,” the 27-year-old content creator wrote. “I guess Iโ€™ll see u guys on the other platforms! Love ya.”

4. Geloy Concepcion

California-based Filipino photographer Geloy Concepcion shared with his followers on Instagram that the platform is no longer available for use.

Geloy Concepcion

Photo: Geloy Concepcion/Instagram Story

The Filipino visual artist, who is also the author behind “Things You Wanted to Say But Never Did: A Photographic Journal to Process Your Feelings,” has over 300,000 followers on TikTok.

5. Patrick Starrr

Filipino-American makeup artist Patrick Starrr shared a hilarious TikTok video before the ban. He has 4 million followers on the social media app.

@patrickstarrr ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ @Peter โ™ฌ original sound – Patrick Starrr

Through his beauty brand ONE/SIZE,ย a humorous video was posted about “crashing out” or experiencing intense emotions following the video-sharing platform’s ban.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ONE/SIZE (@onesize)

“No [because] I thought we at least had one more day with TikTok,” ONE/SIZE wrote.

ALSO READ: TikTok Faces Potential Ban in the United States

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