Who is Riva Mae?

In case you’ve been living under a rock (which, okay, you could have been since we’re all just huddled down at home with the CQs), Riva Mae s. Boongaling is an online seller who took to Twitter to promote her exceptional products. One tweet went viral, and the rest is history, albeit a short one.

So what happened?

Some of u not ok with homophobicness/homophobiality, but gloss over the inherent misogyny and classism that one account been exhibiting. pic.twitter.com/eNeDspPvgv

— nika (@mamabruha) May 5, 2021

The drama started when Twitter user @mamabruha shared her opinion on “that one account” and how it has been exhibiting “inherent misogyny and classism.” She didn’t mention any names, but people were quick to assume that she was referring to @rivamaeb.

Then the “admin” of the @rivamaeb account was allegedly outed in a since-deleted tweet, with some Twitter users sharing more “evidence”. The alleged admin got harassed so much that even their family and relatives were attacked. The real owner of @rivamaeb later shared that she ran the account alone, but her friend took the fall for her to protect her.

The internet is divided

Some are angry that Riva Mae has been run off social media, pointing out that this is simply an impersonation, a parody, something comedians have been doing and people have been finding funny for a long time already.

no.. shes right… the pinnacle of its humor was bore out of classism…. methinks we can move past the humor that only revolves around projecting our superiority to the masses (or the petibs would like to call “jeje”)…. 😋 https://t.co/kwEFsHh0Sb

— chingbee cruz stan account (@cosmythr) May 5, 2021

A few netizens pointed out that user @mamabruha had a point, yes. Unfortunately, it could have been worded better. In a much less aggressive, less shady manner.

(Pinoys are unfortunately prone to thinking before speaking on the Internet. Just look at how embarrassing and disappointing some Pinoy netizens were on some of the Miss Universe 2021 candidates’ IG profiles.)

Some are claiming that @mamabruha could have just ignored the account (like she said Riva Mae should have done with her opinion). She could’ve also stopped at the call out, but things exploded further when she started mentioning slurs. A big NO to that, Miss Mamabruha. Wrong na wrong.

But some people are also asking — is the account really classist? Is typing like Riva Mae had been, as if it were circa 2007, i.e. the time when mron p rin mga GM (nbsa niu b.. tnx), really classist? What if the owner and people who enjoyed the content had laughed about it because they were laughing about themselves who used to type like that? Well, we might never know.

Both sides have received hate and attacks from all over Pinoy internet. And unfortunately, one of them was even driven out of the internet.

Let’s mind your own business

Stop attacking people online. Cancel culture is getting so old, and individuals on the internet should stop joining mobs and throwing digital pitchforks and torches at people. Let’s mind our own business, and maybe put all that energy into more productive things. Or maybe even relaxing activities. Take a walk. See the sun. Touch some grass, as Twitter would like to say.

The issue on privacy and consent

a knee waist i just hope that the real riva mae knows that y’all are using their photos for this kasi kung hindi and ginagamit niyo face niya without consent for clout on this birb app,,,, its time to pack it up miss boongaling

— chingu struggle tweets (@chingoals) May 5, 2021

This is one thing everybody agreed upon. The original photo the @rivamaeb account used was obviously not the owner. But it was still being used without her consent. It’s worse since the person in the photo doesn’t even know that many people are following this account using her face. Remember: consent is important in all aspects of life, especially when it comes to your identity.

The owner of @rivamaeb also admitted that she was wrong to use the photo she “randomly found on an old Internet site” and apologized for her mistake.

The mute and block buttons exist for a reason.

Some users are exclaiming that people should just use these features. The privacy and consent issue aside, if you’re not a fan of her brand of humor or if you just don’t like the content, please mute and block liberally. Then again, Pinoys do like to see drama.

Fans are sad to see her go

fly high ate riva mae 🕊 our transactions will be missed pic.twitter.com/JZ7OYGWmSM

— YVES (@ysaintlaurel) May 6, 2021

The persona’s followers have flooded her replies and mentions to say goodbye to Riva Mae. There was even a video and a couple of hashtags dedicated to the online selling kween.

we’ll miss you miss riva mae 💔😭🕊😍😍 #FlyHighRivaMaesBoongaling#OurShiningLightRivaMae
pic.twitter.com/4sEOSZMSl1

— starsky (@hi_starskyy) May 6, 2021

Goodbye, Ms. Riva Mae s. Boongaling

ok last n talaga bye

— Riva Mae s. Boongaling (@rivamaeb) May 6, 2021

Oras na po para bumalik ka, Ms. Riva Mae. But we hope she’s doing well. You will be missed, but you live in our hearts forever.

Are you sad to see Riva Mae go?