SB19’s Stell Ajero has boldly addressed ongoing controversies regarding his gender and sexual preference, standing up to critics who question his identity.
In a recent interview on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,’ Stell responded directly to the persistent rumors and criticisms surrounding his sexuality and that of fellow SB19 member Pablo. He emphasized that he does not view being gay as an insult and questioned why such discussions continue to surface.
“Hindi ko nga rin po talaga maintindihan. Kasi unang-una po, tingin po ba nila insulto ‘yong ganu’ng klaseng bagay?,” Stell stated. “Ako, for example, lagi po akong natatanong or lagi pong nagiging issue po sa ‘kin ‘yun and I don’t mind na if ever man isipin nilang ganu’n. Kasi if ever man ganu’n ako, what’s the problem?”
“So, if ever man na ganu’n ako, ano’ng problema? So, may issue ba tayo kung for example na maging bakla ako or anything naman na matawag n’yo sa akin?”
Stell’s comments reflect his frustration with the negativity surrounding his sexuality. He stressed that being gay should not be a matter of concern or ridicule. “Kasi pare-parehas naman tayong tao, pare-parehas tayong kumakain, pare-parehas tayong dumudumi,” he added, challenging the notion that one’s sexual orientation should be controversial.
The conversation also touched on the fan culture of “shipping,” where fans create romantic pairings of group members. Stell acknowledged that while this is a common fan practice, it sometimes leads to misunderstandings or malice. “Katulad nga po no’ng mga gano’ng issue, na mahilig ‘yong mga fans sa shipping. Hindi namin maiiwasan ‘yon. Kasi kami nga minsan nagkaka-ano rin kami, bakit parang ganu’n ‘yong tingin ng tao, eh sa amin parang normal naman ‘yun bilang magkakaibigan. Sa ibang tao, iba pala ‘yung iniisip nila,” Stell explained.
He called for an end to the negativity, stating that SB19’s primary goal is to spread joy and for fans to enjoy their music. “Wala naman kaming problema sa mga ganoong klaseng issue kasi willing naman po kaming sagutin lahat,” Stell said.
SB19’s Ken also chimed in, urging fans to keep the shipping culture light-hearted. “‘Yung pinaka-first impression, ‘yun talaga ang matatandaan ng mga tao eh. Especially kapag hindi kami kilala tapos gusto nila kaming kilalanin and ‘yun yung nakikita nila sa social media na ganito ganiyan. About shipping, tapos nag-aaway-away sila just because boto sila sa ganitong ship. It’s alright as long as parang katuwaan lang. But to the point na mag away-away na kayo just because of a petty thing na ganyan, I think that’s not okay. Hindi na siya maganda,” Ken noted, highlighting the need for positive interactions among their supporters.
