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An online petition calls for the replacement of Fifth Solomon due to 'discriminatory, transphobic, and elitist behavior' towards trans artist Edgy Teresa
MANILA, Philippines – Drag Race fans and LGBTQ+ collectives like Euphoria Club MNL are calling for the removal of the current creative director of Drag Race Philippines (DRPH), Fifth Solomon, due to problematic and “discriminatory behavior.”
Online users released a petition on Monday, June 16, calling on Wow Presents Plus, Wonderhouse Asia, and World of Wonder to replace Solomon. The petition was posted by Manila-based Euphoria Club MNL.
They claimed that Solomon “exhibited elitist, discriminatory, transphobic, and fatphobic” behavior on social media. The petition also accused Solomon of bullying and power tripping.
The petition demanded an immediate investigation into this matter, saying that the creative director’s actions are not reflective of the Drag Race community that spreads the message of diversity and love.
What allegedly transpired
The alleged incident raised by Euphoria Club MNL came in a slew of online posts on X, formerly Twitter, against Solomon’s conduct. Most prominent were the claims brought up by trans artist Edgy Teresa on Sunday, June 15.
On a thread posted by Teresa, the incident began when a controversial Instagram post made by Korean and drag bar Hoesik Manila, of which Solomon is a part owner, was criticized by netizens.
Following this, Teresa began to post screenshots of her private messages with the drag bar. The exchange began when Hoesik Manila responded to her Instagram story, which critiqued the establishment for not sticking to their claims of being a “safe space.”
Teresa claimed that the bar refused to show “accountability and remorse,” sharing how they did not see anything wrong with their actions. She even pressed further, claiming that their response was AI-generated.
On the other hand, Hoesik Manila accused Teresa of insulting staff members, bringing up a screenshot of a private conversation between her and the establishment about alleged sexual assault and scamming committed by Pierre Guevarra, whose production was supposed to take place at the bar.
What followed suit was Teresa’s claims of transphobic, elitist, and body-shaming remarks thrown at her from the bar’s Instagram account. Some of the insults included “Wala ka kasi money” (because you don’t have money), which was followed by “Kaya yn pa din pes mo” (That’s why your face still looks like that).
Teresa said that as a transwoman with body dysmorphia, these remarks are a “whole other level of disrespect.”
Solomon responded to Teresa’s thread, posting screenshots of the same private conversation, in which he claims that Teresa also mocked him, stating that she called him a “flop movie queen” and making fun of his plastic surgery.
Hi wag ka pa VICTIM. Ikaw una umatake sakin. And u get what u give. Uve been bitter with us ever since ur team left. We offered u other nights and u didnt accept it which i understand.
U also mocked my work calling me Flop Queen and mocking my plastic surgery. I guest were just… pic.twitter.com/wSMUsn2Eas
Solomon also claimed that Teresa has been bitter about the establishment following her departure from it and that she directly attacked them publicly instead of directly messaging them first.
His response was not well-received by many, including Drag Race PH Miss Congeniality winner, Versex, who expressed her support for Teresa.
“Tantanan na ang pagpapatronize sa baklang yan out of fear na hindi makapasok sa show o makapag All Stars,” the DRPH alumna stated on his X post.
Tantanan na ang pagpapatronize sa baklang yan out of fear na hindi makapasok sa show o makapag All Stars. Change is needed para walang oppressed. Kailangan nating tumindig para sa pangarap ng mga bakla.
— HE/HIM (@vversexx) June 17, 2025(Stop patronizing that gay man out of fear that you won’t get in the show [DRPH] or join [DRPH] All Stars).
Who is Fifth Solomon?
At the center of the incident is Drag Race PH’s current creative director, Fifth Solomon, who was once a Pinoy Big Brother housemate, alongside his identical twin Fourth, back in 2014.
Fifth was also the second housemate who came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community following BB Gandanghari, according to a Preview article.
His career as creative director for DRPH began in its first season. In an interview with preen.ph, Solomon said he was first offered the position in early 2020. He took the title, as he was a big fan of the franchise.
As of writing, DRPH has not released any statement on whether or not Solomon would be replaced.
Solomon is also an actor, writer, and director in film and television. His other works as a director include Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka (2018) and ExSorsis (2021). He has also established his own production company, Passion 5 Studios, as reported by ABS-CBN News.
Online bullying claims
Solomon posted on his Facebook account that he was taken to an emergency room following a mental breakdown on Monday, June 16. Solomon said his breakdown was due to the incessant online hate he had been receiving following the incident.
Before the reports about his mental breakdown, Solomon also posted a response to the bullying on X: “But me? You can’t bring me down. Only the people I love have that power. And even then, I’ll still get up.”
RETOKADA. FLOP. BALIW. MENTAL HOSPITAL. DDS. INCERUN. TOO FEM.
Call me names. Laugh all you want. I’ve heard worse. Survived worse. I grew up with no blueprint, no guidance, no safety net. So I taught myself how to fight, how to bite back. The world isn’t kind. I stopped trying… pic.twitter.com/56CwtkHSse
On Monday, June 16, Solomon released a statement regarding the incident. The post contained an apology to all those affected by his behavior, saying he wasn’t proud of his actions after reflection.
Hi everyone,
Now that I’ve calmed down and had time to reflect, I just wanna apologize sa mga nasabi ko out of anger. Kahit gaano pa ako nasaktan, I know na mali yung sinabi ko, especially the comments about appearance and money. I know that wasn’t nice.. It came from a place of…
I wanna apologize to @edgyteresa you did not deserve that. I know you just want to make it a safe space.
I will pull out na din sa @HoesikMnl totally. I’m not part owner anymore. So continue to support the Production, the Queens and all the Staff.
Again, I’m really sorry. 🏳️…
Included was a public apology to Teresa, stating that she did not deserve any of the treatment she received. Solomon also announced that he stepped down as part-owner of Hoesik Manila. – Mikay Tormon/Rappler.com
Mikay Tormon is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Sociology at the Ateneo de Manila University.
