Gela Atayde Defends Zaijian Amid Social Media Criticism
Kapamilya actress Gela Atayde has come to the defense of her friend Zaijian Jaranilla following the backlash he received from online fans and netizens. Through her Instagram stories, Gela addressed the recent controversy, urging everyone to avoid dragging others into the situation unnecessarily.
The issue began after spliced videos from a TikTok live session featuring Ralph de Leon, Gela, Zaijian, Tommy, and Harvey went viral. During their playful conversation, they mentioned Kapuso stars Dustin Yu and Vince Maristela, which sparked criticism directed at Zaijian and also involved ex-PBB housemate Ralph.
Clarifying the Context and Protecting Friends
Gela quickly stepped in to clarify misunderstandings, emphasizing that many people commenting did not know the full context of what happened. She explained that Zaijian’s remarks reflected his personal opinions based on what he had seen, and she asked that Ralph not be implicated unfairly.
“Hi everyone! Just wanted to clarify a few things, especially since things are starting to get out of hand,” Gela stated. She added, “First, nobody saw the part where Ralph told us off-cam that he and Dustin are actually good friends.”
Gela further noted that Ralph never engaged in any hateful behavior but instead defended Dustin during their discussion. “He shared stories with us, and they were nothing but kind and respectful. That’s why Dustin was genuinely sad when Ralph left, it wasn’t an act. Ralph never joined any hate train. On the contrary, he stood by Dustin as a friend,” she said.
Zaijian’s Apology and Inside Jokes Explained
Regarding Zaijian, Gela clarified that his comments were based on observations from fans of the “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab.” She acknowledged that Zaijian knows his reaction wasn’t entirely right and that he has already apologized.
“Please, let’s not drag Ralph into this any further. He did his part as a true friend to Dustin,” Gela appealed.
She also clarified a misunderstanding about Vince Maristela. Zaijian wasn’t calling Vince an “addict”; instead, he was teasing their mutual friend Tommy in a private, joking manner. “It was an inside joke among friends that was never meant to hurt or bully anyone,” she explained.
Moving Forward with Apologies and Support
In closing, Gela expressed regret over their mistakes and promised that such incidents would not happen again. “We fully acknowledge that some actions came off wrong, and for that, we’re sorry. It won’t happen again.”
She also requested continued support for Ralph, describing him as one of the most genuine individuals they know who deserves kindness. “Moving forward, we ask for your continued support for Ralph. He’s one of the most genuine people we know, and he truly deserves kindness. Thank you!” she added.
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