Kapamilya actress Maris Racal has broken her silence regarding her involvement in the controversy surrounding her and her on-screen partner Anthony Jennings.
The pair has faced heavy criticism after Jam Villanueva, Anthony’s ex-girlfriend, accused them of cheating, alleging that their budding romance began while Jam and Anthony were still together.
In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN on December 6, Maris admitted her shortcomings and apologized for the fallout caused by the issue.
“Today, I will be speaking from my heart. Lahat ng sasabihin ko ngayon ay galing sa puso ko. Nagkamali ako, and I only say sorry for everything that I have done,” the actress shared.
Maris recalled the events leading to the controversy, starting from June 2024, a time she described as a “dark place” in her life.
“I was lonely, and I was getting attention from Anthony—the kind of attention that I needed,” she explained.
She admitted that her emotions led her to make poor decisions, acknowledging the connection she felt with Anthony.
“When I sensed that there was a brewing attention between Anthony and me, nadala ako sa emotions ko. And I knew that was wrong. I came clean right away. I told my ex everything, and I admitted things to him, and then we broke up,” she recounted.
The issue gained traction when Jam Villanueva shared screenshots of alleged flirtatious messages between Maris and Anthony. These posts fueled accusations of infidelity, leading to severe backlash from fans and netizens.
Maris described how the situation escalated amid her hectic work schedule, which included projects shared with Anthony.
“I wasn’t able to really simmer down or reflect on what had happened. I was working every day, and sa lahat ng trabaho na yun kasama ko si Anthony,” she admitted.
The actress said she developed feelings for Anthony during this period, believing he was single.
“He would tell other people close to me that he was single, so I would act a certain way around him on the set because, in the eyes of the people there, we were both single,” she explained.
Maris expressed her deep embarrassment over the public nature of the controversy, describing the emotional toll it has taken.
“I don’t know where to go. Whenever I go out, whenever I walk, I feel like a woman naked. Hindi ko alam ano gagawin ko. I’m so embarrassed,” she said.
She also addressed her fans and supporters, apologizing for letting them down.
“I’m very sorry to those people who supported me for ten years. Alam nila lahat na ginapang ko yung career ko mapunta lang sa kung saan ko gusto,” she said, emphasizing how hard she worked to build her career.
Despite the challenges, Maris vowed to continue working on herself and her career.
“But I can assure you, tuloy pa rin ako. Tuloy pa rin ang laban. Magta-trabaho pa rin ako kahit nahirap. Hindi pa rin namamatay yung apoy sa puso ko,” she said, ending the interview on a hopeful note.
