Photo: Actors’ respective IG accounts" width="100%" />
Currently capturing national attention in the Philippines is the viral showbiz love triangle involving actors Gerald Anderson, Bea Alonzo, and Julia Barretto. Yesterday, Barretto slammed Alonzo for “bullying” her in a statement that appeared on Instagram, stoking the fire more than two weeks after the controversy first surfaced.
In her statement, Barretto started by talking about the anguish that she has felt ever since she became involved in the controversy.
“I have endured many harsh words hurled against me and my family everywhere on social media. It is exhausting and painful. While some may have forgotten, I am also human,” she wrote.
Late last month, Alonzo posted a cryptic Instagram post showing an all-black photo with the message “'[Y]ou can’t make the same mistake twice, the second time you make it, it’s not a mistake anymore, it’s a choice.’ ENOUGH.”
She later announced that she and Anderson had broken up.
Many assumed that Barretto caused the breakup after a netizen on Instagram posted pictures of her and Anderson together at a birthday party and insinuated that the two were in a relationship. Alonzo “liked” the photos, which fans interpreted as proof that Barretto was involved in the breakup. She also accused Anderson of ghosting on her.
On Monday, Anderson denied that a third party caused his breakup with Alonzo, but many still believe that Barretto was the one who caused the split.
In her statement yesterday, Barretto clarified that she did not cheat on her boyfriend actor Joshua Garcia because they broke up four months ago.
She also denied accusations that she caused Anderson and Alonzo to break up.
“Their issues are entirely their own,” Barretto wrote.
She then blasted Alonzo and said that by liking the photos which showed her and Anderson together, the actress has encouraged the online mob to come after her.
“You have encouraged a culture of hate by purposely liking harmless photos, putting malice in the minds of many, which resulted in the outrage of insults against me,” Barretto wrote.
“You are a woman of great influence and following. You could have used that power to promote strength and grace in women, but instead, you’ve used that to promote social media irresponsibility. That is downright bullying.”
“You can play victim all you want but I refuse to be your victim.”
Barretto ended her statement by saying, “I will not be sidetracked, derailed, and be dictated by people’s judgments and opinions about me. This is me setting myself free and getting my soul back.”
The issue has gotten many people talking.
After Barretto’s statement appeared online yesterday, she, Anderson, and Alonzo immediately became worldwide trending topics on Twitter.
“[W]hy is julia barretto attacking bea alonzo? they should join forces and take gerald anderson down instead,” tweeted @gelabeansss.
why is julia barretto attacking bea alonzo? they should join forces and take gerald anderson down instead.
— Angela Beatriz (@gelabeansss) August 6, 2019
Some netizens were unsympathetic towards Barretto, such as @maleedus who wrote: “I really would have applauded Julia Barretto for her courage in speaking up if she also included the national trash aka Gerald Anderson in her post. But instead, she just addressed it all to Bea Alonzo, the hurting woman who’s actually the real victim here. So bye.”
I really would have applauded Julia Barretto for her courage in speaking up if she also included the national trash aka Gerald Anderson in her post.
But instead, she just addressed it all to Bea Alonzo, the hurting woman who’s actually the real victim here. So bye.
— Malee (@maleedus) August 6, 2019
Even Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen joined the fray. He asked: “Dear Bea and Julia, is he (Anderson) really worth it?”
Dear Bea and Julia,
is he really worth it?#JustAsking— Marvic Leonen (@marvicleonen) August 7, 2019
Some people, however, think that Filipinos should spend more time worrying about other issues instead.
Writer Maan D’Asis Pamaran wrote in Filipino on Facebook: “You’re so invested in showbiz issues concerning boyfriend-stealing. How about the issue if island-stealing?”
How do you feel about this issue? Tell us by leaving a comment below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.
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