Celebrity stylist Liz Uy, accompanied by her lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, files libel and slander cases at the Makati Prosecutor鈥檚 Office against Fashion Pulis blogger Michael Sy Lim for his claims about the outfits of Maine Mendoza (aka Yaya Dub). Photo by Maricar B. Brizuela, Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Celebrity stylist Liz Uy filed cases of online libel and grave slander with plea for damages amounting to P11 million at the Makati Prosecutor鈥檚 Office on Monday afternoon against Fashion Pulis blogger Michael Sy Lim for the latter鈥檚 鈥渇alse and malicious鈥� social media posts about the outfits of Maine Mendoza (aka Yaya Dub).
The 24-page complaint highlighted Lim鈥檚 Twitter posts and blog entries at the Fashion Pulis website, which criticized Uy for making Mendoza wear 鈥渁 recycled gown鈥� during Eat Bulaga鈥檚 鈥淭amang Panahon鈥� event at the Philippine Arena last Oct. 24 and a 鈥渉and-me-down jacket鈥� for a magazine photoshoot.
Uy鈥檚 legal counsel, lawyer and senatorial aspirant Lorna Kapunan, said the posts were 鈥渕eant to destroy the reputation of the celebrity stylist and cause fans to hate her.鈥�
鈥淚 have been receiving hate mails because of the allegations,鈥� Uy told members of the media after she filed the complaint at the prosecutor鈥檚 office.
When asked why it took her about two weeks to file the case, Uy said she spent the two weeks preparing her case even as Lim constantly named her in social media posts and even in events.
鈥淚 hope he checks his information first before writing about it,鈥� Uy added.
According to Lim, Uy made Mendoza wore a 鈥渞ecycled鈥� pink gown during the Philippine Arena event, a dress which was already worn by Kim Chiu during a 2013 fashion show at the Edsa Shangri-la.
Gown designer Francis Libiran earlier explained that Eat Bulaga bought and paid for the gown, which was launched during the 鈥淔rancis Libiran Metrowear Icon鈥� fashion show in 2013 with Chiu as the model.
鈥淭his gown has not been worn at any other event by any other celebrity,鈥� the designer added.
As for the slander charge, Kapunan explained that Lim also made 鈥渇alse and verbal tirades鈥� against Uy during an event at the Manila Peninsula last Oct. 28.
Actress Isabelle Daza, who heard and witnessed Lim鈥檚 accusations, said that the gossip and fashion blogger accused Uy of making Mendoza wear during a magazine photoshoot a jacket which Uy allegedly wore during an earlier event.
鈥淭he posts and accusations of Lim were untrue, malicious, irresponsible and made in bad faith. They were meant to cast aspersion upon Ms Uy, erode her credibility as a fashion stylist and paint her as an incompetent fashion stylist for Maine,鈥� added Kapunan.
The lawyer added that Uy worked hard to establish her name in the fashion industry and that Lim 鈥渕ust be held accountable for causing Uy humiliation and extreme distress.鈥�
鈥淔or all these, Ms. Uy cannot let him get away with his actions especially in light of the fact that many people in the fashion industry and show business were apparently bullied by Mr. Lim. It is imperative to stand up and fight against irresponsible and unfair cyberbullying,鈥� Kapunan added.
She noted that if found guilty, Lim could be jailed for 6 to 12 years. 聽SFM