Tanya Markova’s lead vocalist, Iwa Motors, has yet to comment on Filipino folk-pop band Ben&Ben’s statement regarding allegations of causing other artists to be sidelined at events.
In a message sent to Manila Standard Entertainment, Iwa stated that he has “no comment” regarding the clarifications posted by Ben&Ben, adding that he is currently focusing on taking care of his newborn baby.
In a statement released on Monday, Aug. 19, Ben&Ben addressed the accusations, denying any wrongdoing and asserting that they were unaware of their impact on the event’s lineup.
“We would like to put an end to the accusations constantly being made, further insinuated by a guesting of Tanya Markova on the podcast ‘Koolpals’,” the statement read.
The issue arose following their performance at FEU Diliman on Saturday, Aug. 17, where they were accused of preventing other acts, like Dwta, from performing.
The controversy gained traction due to previous accusations against Ben&Ben of similar behavior at the Camanava grand rally in 2022.
“It was never the intention nor the action of the band or the band’s management to sideline other artists during the ‘Camanava’ grand rally. It was the responsibility of the organizers to take accountability for the logistical mishaps at the event. The band itself was also a victim of the unforeseen delays, as were Tanya Markova and the other groups,” the statement continued.
Tanya Markova had previously claimed during their guesting on “KoolPals” that Ben&Ben was originally scheduled to perform after their set but was moved up in the lineup, affecting the performance times of other artists.
The nine-piece band also emphasized their support for fellow musicians and their desire to uplift the local music scene.
“The band has taken extra steps to reach out not only to Tanya Markova but to all the other affected performers, even though it was the responsibility of the event organizers to own up and be accountable,” the statement added.
