Filipinos are mourning the death of 19-year-old social media influencer and mental health advocate Emman Atienza, who spoke out about the damaging impact cyberbullying can have on a person.
Emman, daughter of renowned Filipino journalist Kim “Kuya Kim” Atienza and businesswoman Felicia Hung-Atienza, passed away on October 22 in her home in Los Angeles.
Her family announced the tragic news on their social media accounts.
In an Instagram post, Felicia wrote, “It’s with deep sadness that we share the unexpected passing of our daughter and sister, Emman.”
“To honor Emman’s memory, we hope you carry forward the qualities she lived by: compassion, courage and a little extra kindness in your everyday life.”
Her death has prompted celebrities and social media influencers to call for an end to online hate, warning of the toll it can take on individuals.
‘Stop online hate’
In a post on X, Filipino celebrity Gabbi Garcia condemned online bullying, bashing, and trolling, saying they “will NEVER be okay.”
“Many people are already silently struggling with personal battles we don’t see.”
“The effects on mental health are real.”
“Anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and sometimes even irreversible decisions,” she wrote.
“It’s time to break this cycle of hate. Imagine if we used these platforms not to tear each other down, but to lift each other up, with compassion, empathy, and understanding… Words are powerful.”
“Use them to uplift, not to destroy.”
Meanwhile, social media influencer Inka Magnaye mentioned how Emman spoke openly about living with bipolar disorder.
“She died because her comments were filled with hate, accusations, and cruelty,” she said.
Reflecting on her own experiences with online abuse, Magnaye added: “That heaviness sticks to you like hot tar – you can’t wash it off or tune it out. And her mental health condition only magnified it.”
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‘Mental health matters’
Some internet users also noted that it’s easy for people to spread hate online, knowing they aren’t the ones on the receiving end.
Emman was outspoken about mental health, sharing her struggles to raise awareness and reminding others that “it does get better.”
In a YouTube interview with Toni Gonzaga, she spoke about being bullied in high school and exploited by some friends.
And just as she was healing from it, she faced online backlash over a playful “guessing the bill” video, with critics calling her a nepo baby and out of touch.
Despite these challenges, Emman remained optimistic, saying the struggles helped her discover something about herself: that she’s “loving, loud, bubbly, and unapologetically herself.”
Adam Peaker 
Newsjustnews writers 
Carmela Calling