Actress and singer Bella Astillah says she refuses to be affected by online insults targeting her appearance and family background, choosing instead to focus on her children, career and well-being.
The 32-year-old said she is proud of her heritage and has never been ashamed of her family background.
Despite calls from some fans to take legal action against those spreading defamatory remarks online, Bella said she has no intention of giving attention to negativity.
“I feel it’s a waste of time. I have children to raise, a career to focus on and plans for the future. If I keep dwelling on these things, what will happen to my mental health?
“Perhaps these people are struggling with their own issues. There’s no need to focus on them. Let them heal, and we can only pray that they change for the better,” she said during a TikTok live session.
Bella also urged people not to use social media to insult or bring others down, saying life is too short for such behaviour.
She appealed to the public not to drag her parents into the criticism by sharing old photographs of her mother or questioning her family’s roots.
“I don’t mind if people talk about me, but please leave my parents out of it.
“I’m Bruneian Kadayan and also have Filipino ancestry through my late grandmother. If people say I’m Dusun, Kadazan, Sungai, Suluk or Bajau, I’m proud of that too. We’re all human,” she said.
Meanwhile, Syed Saddiq urged Malaysians to stop judging people based on race or ancestry, saying the country’s diversity should be celebrated rather than used to create divisions.
“Let’s stop putting people into categories based on race. In the end, we’ll be judged by the good we do. That’s how we should celebrate Malaysia’s diversity,” he said.
