Artist and presenter Sarwendah has finally spoken out to clear up negative rumors accusing her of performing a pesugihan (wealth-seeking) ritual in the Mount Kawi area, East Java. Through a chat on Denny Sumargo's YouTube channel, Ruben Onsu's ex-wife emphasized that her visit to the sacred location was purely for professional purposes.
Sarwendah explained that her visit to Mount Kawi at the time was to produce a mystical program titled KBP The Lost World, which was released online during the COVID-19 pandemic. She regretted the wild public speculation that concluded her visit was an attempt to seek instant wealth through mystical means.
Regarding the traditional ceremonies that were captured on camera and raised public suspicion, the mother of three explained that they were done solely to respect local traditions for the smooth running of the production process. Together with the entire crew, she followed the guidance of the local caretaker (juru kunci), including eating dishes like yellow rice (nasi kuning) as a symbol of respect for local customs.
To clear up the misunderstandings circulating widely on social media, talk show host Denny Sumargo took the initiative to contact Marcel Radhival, also known as the Red Magician (Pesulap Merah), via telephone. The magician, known for being vocal in educating the public about mystical myths, had previously reviewed Sarwendah's visit to the area.
After hearing a direct explanation of the chronology and purpose of the content creation, the Red Magician apologized. He admitted that there was video editing by irresponsible parties on social media that altered the educational essence he wanted to convey, while reiterating that the practice of sacrificial pesugihan is actually just a hoax.
