Kim Chiu reflects on ‘Bawal Lumabas’ controversy: ‘Parang woman of steel ako’

Actress and TV host Kim Chiu shared in her recent interview that the “bawal lumabas” fiasco has transformed her into the “woman of steel” she is today.

In an exclusive interview with Preview, the multimedia idol revealed that following the controversy, she feared it might spell an “untimely conclusion” to her career.

“I thought, tapos na siguro ito. Ito na siguro ‘yung end,” she recalled.

The ‘bawal lumabas’ issue arose during the lockdown when Kim’s home network, ABS-CBN, lost its franchise.

In a Facebook livestream, Kim made confusing statements comparing the lockdown to classroom rules, which led to widespread misunderstanding and became an internet sensation with memes, videos, and remixes flooding social media.

The actress confessed that the backlash left her traumatized to the point of considering fleeing to Canada. “’Yun na ‘yung lowest point of bashing na natanggap ko,” she said.

Kim’s journey in showbiz began in 2006 when she became the ‘big winner’ of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition. Her career soared with a breakthrough role in ‘Tayong Dalawa’ (2009) alongside her then-love team partner, Gerald Anderson.

During the height of the ‘bawal lumabas’ issue, Kim isolated herself for one and a half months.

“For one-and-a-half months, nasa room lang talaga ako. Ayoko kumausap ng tao. Kasi parang ilang sentence lang nga, sobra na ‘yung judgment ng mga tao. Nadala lang naman [ako] ng emosyon,” she revealed.

Over time, Kim turned the situation around, releasing her own remix of the controversial statements, which went viral on TikTok.

Reflecting on the experience, Kim stated that the controversy ultimately strengthened her.

“So now, kahit anong i-judge sa akin ng mga tao, parang woman of steel na lang [ako],” she said. “Ikaw na lang magdidesisyon on whatever you’re facing if you want it to be positive or negative. And nobody wants a negative life.”

Kim concluded by expressing gratitude for the longevity of her career, celebrating 18 years in the industry.