Moneeze Bernardo
- Lang Leav criticizes Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta’s article of her interview with the said best-selling poet
- Support from fans poured over Lang Leav in her Twitter account
- One netizen called out Lang Leav’s writing as lacking both in “style and substance”
Popular and bestselling poet Lang Leav lambasted an article on Tuesday by ABS-CBN writer Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta about the latter’s interview of her entitled “Leav and let live (What I learned from meeting Lang Leav).”
The chagrined author posted on her Twitter while quote-retweeting the article to which she was tagged, “Cringeworthy article. For the record, those string of pearls was a gift from my mother back when I was a starving artist. I wear it for luck at all my events. Perhaps, focus less on giving backhanded compliments and more on being a professional journalist.”
Cringeworthy article. For the record, those string of pearls was a gift from my mother back when I was a starving artist. I wear it for luck at all my events. Perhaps focus less on giving backhanded compliments and more on being a professional journalist. https://t.co/ckMobYVYlI
— Lang Leav (@langleav) February 25, 2019
The string of pearls was in reference to Katigbak’s writing of a dream-sequence before the two of them even met and sat down for an interview.
“We’re like two slingers preparing to draw. Bohemian fringe, she sees me think, but moneyed enough for that string of pearls. Poet, she sees me raise an eyebrow, but a bestselling author. At that point in the dream, I waltz, Cherie Gil-like to where she’s seated. ‘You’re not a journalist,’ she tells me, ‘And you’re not a poet,’ I tell her,” the passage read.
I have the utmost respect for journalism and the crucial role it plays in our society. I just don’t think you should abuse your position by pushing an agenda. And if you’re going to interview an author, read her books. Not excerpts you see online.
— Lang Leav (@langleav) February 25, 2019
Thanks Maddy. Painfully obvious she came to the interview, with her mind already made up. These style over substance writers are the ones who are ruining literature. Language belongs to everyone. Not to a small, entitled few.
— Lang Leav (@langleav) February 25, 2019
Dude, I’ve had six years of criticism good and bad. Don’t make it about that. This article was just one long narcissistic rant. Annoyed I gave her my time when I was doing up to 8 hours back to back media per day.
— Lang Leav (@langleav) February 25, 2019
Thanks Dawn. The disappointing thing is I do remember this journalist. We had an insightful and constructive discussion. As she mentioned, she would have made a great ‘ally.’ We all want to encourage literacy in young adults. We’re so much more powerful when we all work together.
— Lang Leav (@langleav) February 25, 2019
Many fans came in support of Leav, a writer who was not unfamiliar of criticism and online discourse over her “verse” poems.
One fan who is also an author herself replied to Leav’s post with “What a painfully envious article. It is so sad when other artists choose bitterness over celebration. You deserve all of your success. You are a poet. You are amazing at what you do. A huge inspiration to me. People love poetry again. You’ve been a huge part of reviving it.”
“Thanks Maddy. Painfully obvious she came to the interview, with her mind already made up. These style over substance writers are the ones who are ruining literature. Language belongs to everyone. Not to a small, entitled few,” responded Leav.
But this reply was met with a scathing remark by a netizen, tweeting in all caps “Style over substance??? Ma’am you have neither,” which garnered a thousand likes.
STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE??? MA'AM YOU HAVE NEITHER https://t.co/A7RhY8j7WV
— Apa (@apaagbayani) February 25, 2019
Katigbak’s husband also came for the poet’s defense, replying to Leav’s comment, “‘These style over substance writers are the ones who are ruining literature.’ Critical thinking belongs to everyone—and every writer should be able to take criticism. Who is the entitled one, then?”
