Music producer Benny Blanco has had a change of heart regarding a popular Filipino fast food chain.
Jollibee, with its 73 locations across the U.S., including 31 in California, has garnered attention for its signature fried chicken, dubbed Chicken Joy, as well as its Filipino-inspired spaghetti (featuring hot dogs and a sweet sauce) and dessert pies filled with mango or ube instead of the traditional apple.
Blanco, who often shares his fast food experiences on TikTok, particularly after indulging in marijuana, initially had little positive to say about Jollibee in a review video posted last week.
In the video titled “my first time trying Jollibee,” Blanco, whose stepmom is Filipino, expressed disappointment with the adobo rice and criticized the chicken for being “soggy.” His review garnered over 5 million views, with many viewers expressing dissatisfaction with his opinions.
Comments flooded in, with one top comment likening Blanco’s review of Jollibee to a review of himself, while others referenced his girlfriend, Selena Gomez, in their reactions.
Facing backlash, Blanco swiftly responded with a follow-up video titled “filipino food take 2,” where he did a complete turnaround. After taking a few bites of the Jollibee chicken sandwich, Blanco exclaimed, “Holy f—,” praising its taste and reversing his earlier negative opinion.
While some fans saw Blanco’s reversal as a genuine change of heart, others interpreted it as sarcastic. Blanco, meanwhile, continues to share his culinary adventures and will soon release his own cookbook, “Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends,” though it’s unclear if it will feature any Filipino dishes.