Raffi Ahmad Apologizes Over Youth Pledge Declaration, Metro Jaya Police Join In

Raffi Ahmad has finally spoken out directly. The presenter and owner of the official Instagram account @ukp_mudaseni_raffiahmad uploaded an apology video on his official Instagram account @ukp_mudaseni_raffiahmad on Sunday, November 1, 2026, addressing the public uproar over his attendance at the Youth Pledge Declaration at Bundaran HI, Jakarta, on October 29.

In the video, Raffi stressed that his attendance was purely as an invited guest. He said he was not involved in planning or organizing the event, and named the Metro Jaya Police as the organizer. At the end of his clarification, Raffi apologized "for the commotion" that had arisen, while promising to be more careful going forward in accepting invitations and participating in public activities.

This statement is the latest development in a polemic that has been rolling since last week. It should be underlined: Raffi's apology is a clarification of his involvement in the event that drew criticism — not an admission of any criminal wrongdoing. Not a single fact states that Raffi is tied to any criminal act in this incident.

## Layered Apologies: The Metro Police Apologized First

A day before Raffi's video was uploaded, the police had already apologized first. The Metro Jaya Police's Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, issued an apology on Saturday, October 31, 2026, for the commotion caused by the event.

The string of apologies from both sides shows how serious the public pressure has been. The controversy began with claims circulating on social media that the crowds present at the declaration were "paid masses" — claims made by several participants that spread quickly, but which have never been independently verified. Such claims must be treated as claims, not facts, until there is official proof.

## Criticism Keeps Coming

Even though apologies have been delivered, the tide of criticism has not immediately receded. Veteran artist Sarah Sechan voiced sharp criticism via Threads on the account @sarsehshoku on October 31, questioning Raffi's integrity as a public figure. Previously, comedians Andovi da Lopez and Bintang Emon had also voiced open criticism of Raffi.

Public pressure has even spilled into the professional sphere. Several musicians reportedly withdrew from the RANS Carnival Sleman festival, held October 31 to November 1, 2026. Nevertheless, the festival affiliated with Raffi's RANS still ran its first day as scheduled. A number of media outlets described this wave of rejection as a form of "cancel culture" against the famous presenter.

## A Brief Chronology of the Polemic

To understand why this apology became big news, here is the sequence of events based on verified facts. On October 29, 2026, Raffi attended the Youth Pledge Declaration at Bundaran HI, Jakarta. Not long after the event, claims that the crowds were "paid masses" began spreading on social media — made by several participants, but never independently verified and not to be treated as fact.

On October 31, two things happened almost simultaneously: Metro Jaya Police public relations chief Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto apologized for the commotion, and Sarah Sechan launched open criticism via Threads on the account @sarsehshoku, questioning Raffi's integrity. The pressure continued into the professional sphere as several musicians withdrew from RANS Carnival Sleman (October 31–November 1), though the festival's first day still went ahead. The climax came on November 1, when Raffi uploaded his own clarification and apology video.

## Looking Ahead

This case leaves several important questions. First, how the Metro Jaya Police — named as the organizer — will follow up on this polemic institutionally: the public relations apology is on record, but an official explanation of the mass-mobilization mechanism behind the event is still incomplete. Second, whether Raffi's public apology is enough to restore public trust, given his position as the President's Special Envoy, who should be a role model for the younger generation.

Also worth noting, this polemic is a reminder for public figures who are state officials: in the social media era, every appearance at an event can become material for public judgment within hours. Clarifications that are fast, transparent, and complete — including who the organizer was and what one's role was — should be the standard, not a response after the uproar has spread.