Eruption opens up on his wife Rona’s struggles with injuries, miscarriages & depression

• Eric “Eruption” Tai posted a powerful message defending his wife Rona from online body-shaming and revealed her journey through multiple knee surgeries, miscarriages, and a life-threatening childbirth

• He shared how their son Legend was a one-shot IVF miracle after doctors said Rona could no longer get pregnant

• Eruption emphasized that Rona’s body changed because of the immense pain, loss, and strength she endured, not because of laziness or neglect

• The influencer urged people to stop judging what they don’t understand and reminded everyone that true beauty is found in what a person has overcome

Influencer, fitness advocate, and former “It’s Showtime” host Eric “Eruption” Tai took to Instagram to speak out against body-shaming, in a powerful post defending his wife Rona Tai from online criticism over her weight. In the heartfelt message, Eruption revealed the painful and courageous journey they have endured together as a couple—one marked by physical injury, pregnancy loss, near-death experiences, and the strength to survive it all.

“This is my wife, Rona,” he began, accompanying the caption with photos of Rona and their family.

“What they don’t see is that she’s had 4 knee surgeries due to a snowboarding accident and the docs said she’ll never be able to run again.”

Tai opened up about their devastating struggles with fertility, including two miscarriages in consecutive years, and a devastating diagnosis that Rona would no longer be able to get pregnant after losing both fallopian tubes and an ovary. Yet, in a twist of hope and resilience, the couple welcomed their son Legend, calling him their “one-shot IVF miracle baby.” Rona also almost died during childbirth and suffered postpartum depression and anxiety.

”We really had only one chance, one shot, and one answered prayer,” he shared. “But even then, it wasn’t easy. During childbirth, Rona almost died due to some unforeseen complications. I almost lost my wife on the very day we became parents.

”So people expect her to “bounce back.” But how do you bounce back from near death? From two devastating losses before that? From postpartum pain, PTSD, hormonal imbalance, anxiety and depression?”

On top of this trauma, Tai also revealed that the couple lost their three beloved dogs—Lilo, Tyger, and Nalah— within a short span of time, compounding their grief during an already overwhelming period.

In his message, Tai directly addressed the unfair expectations placed on women to quickly “bounce back” physically after pregnancy, especially in Rona’s case, where survival and healing have taken precedence over appearance.

“So yes, her body changed. Because her life changed. Because her heart broke again and again, while she kept showing up, surviving, loving, and mothering. Hindi siya tamad. Hindi siya pabaya. She was surviving.”

Despite the criticism, Eruption proudly shared that Rona is now healthier than ever, even surpassing him in their recent medical checkups.

“Fact check: with our yearly doctors check-up results, Rona has a healthier heart and blood works than me!”

He called on society at large to offer more empathy, patience, and support to women navigating postpartum recovery, grief, and mental health struggles.

“Let’s stop judging what we don’t understand and choose to see beyond what’s visible. Because true beauty and love is not just how someone looks, it’s what they’ve overcome!!”

The post quickly went viral, earning praise from netizens who commended Tai for using his platform to shed light on the unseen realities of motherhood and marriage.

Eric Tai, also known as Eruption, is a Tongan-born Filipino actor, model, TV host, comedian and rugby union player. He also used to be one of the hosts of "It's Showtime". Tai got married to Rona Samson in March 2015 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cubao, Quezon City.

In a past interview with Julius Babao, Eruption narrated why he left the ABS-CBN noontime program “It’s Showtime.” According to Eruption, it was a producer of the show who informed him that he was being removed from the program because it had to undergo a reformat. Despite what happened, Eric did not have hard feelings toward the “It’s Showtime” family. The social media star expressed his gratitude to Vice Ganda, the other co-hosts, and the staff of the show for giving him an opportunity to work and gain popularity.

During the height of the pandemic in 2021, Eruption tested positive for COVID-19, an information he shared to his followers online. However, Eruption’s household members tested negative for the said virus. He also jokingly said that he was imprisoned in his room by his wife Rona Samson because of his illness. Lastly, he urged the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to isolate themselves immediately if they experience any symptoms.

Source: KAMI.com.gh