Several Pinoys expressed support for television personality Kim Atienza after an online user blamed him for his daughter’s death using religious words.
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A TikTok user commented on a tribute post shared by Kim, which featured a clip of Emmanuelle “Emman” Atienza singing “Sailor Song” inside a studio.
“‘The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised,'” the TV personality captioned his post, quoting a verse from the Bible.
“Thank you for the 19 years of my dearest little Emmansky, Lord,” he added.
@kuya_kimatienzaThe Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Thank you for the 19 years of my dearest little emmansky Lord.♬ 11 Binaural Beats 1 Hz – August Son Productions
Kim is a Born-again Christian who previously expressed a desire to become a priest and described himself as a “very prayerful kid.”
Meanwhile, the TikTok user named Joy used religious language to blame him.
“This is a common issue—many people misinterpret Scripture to fit their own narratives. But let’s be clear: God did not take her life—she made that choice herself. If you are truly in Christ, the Holy Spirit will convict you to repent for the ways you may have fallen short as a parent. This is an open rebuke,” she commented.
“You were meant to be her primary protector, teacher, and guide. Tragically, she was left without the support she needed from the one who was supposed to be her anchor. Proverbs 22:6 says train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old, he will not depart from it. It’s a message from God to all the parents; failing to do so is a sin,” the TikTok user added.
Kim saw the opinion and responded: “Joy, you are an evangelical bully. My Emman did not make that choice as clearly as you make choices. My Emman was clinically depressed.”
His comment has earned 18,200 likes from other TikTok users.
Other social media users came to Kim’s defense, sharing supportive messages and their own opinions.
“Oh, Joy. This is a moment that calls for compassion, not condemnation. Mental health struggles are incredibly complex. They involve silent battles that no parent, no matter how loving or present, can always see or prevent. To imply that a mother or father failed is deeply unfair and does not reflect the fullness of Christ’s heart,” a TikTok user said.
“Good point. Truth and compassion can actually go together. But here’s another truth for the commenter and you to focus on: Is the timing right? When you visit someone who’s grieving or someone who lost a loved one due to their own choice, do you talk to them about blaming the person’s choice?” another wrote.
A Filipino Facebook user also shared her thoughts, citing “Joy’s” comment as an example of why she dislikes “religious and political fanatics.”
“And I agree with Kuya Kim Atienza that you are an evangelical bully, Joy. This is the first time I heard this term,” the Facebook user said on Sunday, October 26.
“Respect the family. #MentalHealth is Real. It is a medical condition. Look it up,” the online user added.
“Gumamit pa talaga ng Bible phrase. Please lang,” the Facebook user also said in the comments.
Emman was a content creator and social media personality who focused on lifestyle content, rock climbing and candid discussions on important topics, particularly mental health awareness.
In her last Instagram broadcast, she spoke about social media pressures and her decision to take a break from TikTok.
She had shared that she had been struggling with mental health issues since the age of 12. In 2022, she revealed diagnoses of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), bipolar disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
READ: ‘Emman will be home’: Kim Atienza says wake set in Manila
