Shay Mitchell, the Pretty Little Liars actress is in hot water over recent comments about her heritage. On her HBO Max show Thirst with Shay Mitchell she claimed, “You know what my background is? My dad’s Irish, my mom’s Spanish.”
Fans were quick to call her out, with one TikTok user commenting, “Girl your mom is from Pampanga. No Spanish there” Others reminded everyone that Mitchell’s aunt is the iconic Filipina actress and singer Lea Salonga.
This isn’t the first time Mitchell’s heritage has been a point of contention. In 2016, she admitted to Self magazine, “I didn’t want to look like myself,” revealing she used to hide her Filipino roots due to insecurities about her appearance. But in the same interview, she claimed to have embraced her heritage, saying, “Why am I trying to change myself? I should be proud of who I am and my heritage.”
Her recent comments have reignited the debate. Some fans recall her accepting a role in the Filipino animated series Trese in 2021, saying it brought her closer to her mother’s heritage. Yet, her “Thirst” statement seems to contradict this.
The backlash has been swift, with some fans feeling betrayed. One user commented, “A few years ago, didn’t Shay Mitchell accept being one of the voice actors for Trese because she wanted to connect more with her Filipino roots and whatever else she said.” Another added, “Who’s Shay Mitchell? Spain can have her. Please. Take her.”
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Mitchell has yet to respond to the controversy, leaving fans to wonder if she’s once again shying away from her Filipino heritage. As the drama unfolds, one thing’s for sure: the internet is not holding back.
