Turns out, it’s not all fun and games when it comes to Philippine showbiz’s love teams.
In an interview with the Philippine Star published today, actress Janella Salvador, 20, alleged that her love team partner Elmo Magalona, 24, physically hurt her in at least two separate occasions.
The report by showbiz journalist Ricky Lo says that Janella sustained bruises on her arm and leg, allegedly after an altercation with Elmo about a month ago. Janella said that what transpired was not an accident.
“I decided to speak up now because I want to stop the lies,” Janella told Philippine Star.
She recalled that Elmo allegedly hurt her while they were arguing after a party.
In an interview published today by The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Janella said they both had something to drink that night and admitted that she also slapped Elmo because she felt disrespected.
However, the actress said that that was not the first time Elmo hurt her.
“The first time happened months earlier. He claimed that he didn’t remember what he did, maybe because he had a drink, and he asked for forgiveness and I gave him a chance. I told him, ‘Next time, don’t bring yourself to the point that you will hurt someone.’ He promised that he wouldn’t do it again,” Janella said in the Philippine Star interview.
She said she was speaking out now, not to shame Elmo but to “correct the lies being spread against me and my mom, and to let the truth out.”
Rumors that Elmo hurt Janella started last month when she was spotted with bruises on actress Julia Barretto’s Instagram Story. Adding fuel to the rumors was a cryptic tweet Janella posted that alluded to the alleged abuse.
“I think everyone deserves someone who does not hurt them regardless if they’re drunk or not. Men who are raised properly are never supposed to hurt women no matter what,” Janella wrote.
I think everyone deserves someone who does not hurt them regardless if they’re drunk or not. Men who are raised properly are never supposed to hurt women no matter what. 🙂
— Janella Salvador (@superjanella) September 8, 2018
A couple of weeks after that tweet, Janella’s mom, actress Jenine Desiderio, used the social media platform to allege that Elmo and his mother Pia Magalona tried to cover up the story. Desiderio even alleged that Elmo had pushed Janella out of a van, showbiz website PEP reported.
In her interview with Inquirer, Janella said that Elmo “volunteered” to address the issue during a meeting with their managers from the ABS-CBN-owned talent agency Star Magic, but that he never did.
Star Magic is responsible for developing many of the country’s top love teams.
In Philippine showbiz, a love team is composed of an actor and an actress who are romantically linked to each other on and off screen. Apart from appearing on teleseryes (TV series) and films together, they are also made to look like they’re dating in real life.
Janella and Elmo never confirmed their relationship status but the actress told the Philippine Star that they were “exclusively dating.”
Both Janella and Elmo are part of a showbiz family. Desiderio, Janella’s mom, appeared on the West End production of Miss Saigon, while her father Juan Miguel Salvador was the frontman of 80s band Rage Band. Elmo, on the other hand, is the son of late Filipino hip-hop icon Francis Magalona and the grandson of actors Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran.
Elmo has not released a statement regarding Janella’s allegations. Coconuts Manila contacted Elmo’s mother and manager Pia for comment through email and Instagram message but she has not replied as of posting time.
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