Lea Salonga fan gets flak after following her to 'Here Lies Love' dressing room for photo

A Lea Salonga fan has been criticized on social media when he and his group followed the actress to her dressing room after a "Here Lies Love" show in Broadway.

The fan, Cristopher Carpila, posted a video of the encounter on Facebook, where it has gone viral with more than 1.8 million views, 15,000 reactions, and 4,000 comments.

In the video, Cristopher and his companions were outside the door of Lea's dressing room and asked to take a picture with the actress. Lea, however, told them to wait for her outside the backstage because they cannot enter for security reasons.

"Unless you're on the guest list we cannot have you back here," Lea said. "I'm sorry because if I allow this now then other people are gonna take advantage."

One woman from the group said she is a friend of G Töngi and they are co-producers of the show, but Lea stood her ground.

"Please don't do this again," she said.

The group then headed to the exit and followed Lea. Cristopher showered the actress with praises as they walked.

"Lea idol na idol ka po namin. You're so pretty, wala ka pang kupas. Napakagaling mo, napakahusay mo. Grabe talaga we're so proud of you," he said.

Lea thanked him but said that she had to be really strict about dressing room access.

"Yes po, we understand po the protocol," he said.

In his post on Facebook, Cristopher wrote that he took a video of the incident after they were turned away in front of the stage right after the show. 

"Ang lakas talaga ng pakiramdam ko na ganun ulit ang gagawin niya kaya talagang hinanda ko ang video ko," he said.

"Para kaming mga basurang pinagtabuyan sa harap ng mga taong andoon (Filipino at Amerikano)," he said of the initial incident, which he did not capture on video.

He then wrote a message for Lea.

"If ever naman po na mali kami at wala sa guest list, the fact na andun na kami para lang magpa-picture, pumila at nagbayad ng mahal para sa show, siguro naman po bilang kapwa Pilipino at mga fans eh mabigyan ng kahit konting respeto at kahit hindi na yakapin or i-beso ay mapagbigyan na kahit sandaling magpa-picture," he said.

On Twitter, Lea quote-tweeted her thoughts on fan behavior when BTS member Jung Kook turned away food that fans had delivered to his home.

"Just a reminder... I have boundaries. Do not cross them. Thank you," she said.

Just a reminder… I have boundaries. Do not cross them. Thank you. https://t.co/LVziX55lDf

— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 17, 2023

Lea also quote-tweeted an old video of her speaking to the press about the same issue, which was posted by a fan.

"When personal boundaries and space are violated, then how am I supposed to react?" Lea said in the video.

Thanks for sharing this. Allow me to quote.

This is the mindset of many folks in the industry. If you get it, that’s good. If you don’t, then I have no good words for you. https://t.co/1YHha4acHB

— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 17, 2023

Meanwhile, Cristopher posted another video informing the public that he will be posting a video explaining why his group was waiting for Lea outside her dressing room.  

"Nag-video ako nito kasi gusto kong ipaalam sa inyo na ipopost ko na po 'yung video na kung bakit nandun po kami. Kaya sana pag napanood n'yo po 'yan ay maging fair po tayo," he said.

"Hindi ko po pagpipilitan kung ano 'yung magiging conclusion n'yo pero sana let's just be fair para alam mo na everybody happy."

As of writing, he has posted a nine-second video showing the protocol for fans, where he said they must first go to the exit.

Some fans who saw the original video called him and his companions "entitled."

"Fans should respect her privacy, have some consideration. May mga dapat sundin na protocol, fans should know their limit," one Twitter user said.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News