Fans were left surprised and thrilled after Darren Espanto and Juan Karlos Labajo were seen seemingly in conversation during the ABS-CBN Ball 2025 held at Solaire Resort North in Quezon City on April 4.
A photo shared on Instagram by veteran journalist Karen Davila showed the two former ‘The Voice Kids’ finalists facing each other, appearing engaged in a civil conversation alongside a third, unidentified person.
Though no formal interaction was publicized, the candid moment has sparked widespread speculation: Have Darren and JK finally buried the hatchet?
It’s been several years since the two artists found themselves entangled in controversy. In 2018, Juan Karlos allegedly tweeted “@Espanto2001 gayness at its finest”—a remark that Darren strongly condemned. JK denied authoring the post, attributing it to a hacked account, but Darren refused to believe the explanation, leading to a very public and heated online exchange.
The feud escalated further when Darren’s mother filed a cyberlibel complaint against JK in early 2019, shortly after the latter turned 18. While reports later surfaced that the case may have been dismissed, neither party confirmed its resolution, and the tension appeared to linger.
The surprise sighting of Darren and JK appearing cordial was enough to stir emotions online. Fans quickly flooded social media with reactions:
Sana true that OK na sina JK at Darren. Same naman sila ng close friends after all.
— Daz (@DAZtw0pointO) April 7, 2025
Ano namang masama kung magkausap sina Darren Espanto at Juan Karlos Labajo trewww? Eh matatanda na sila trewww pic.twitter.com/oz94jeK0VF
— Zsa Zsa Patilya (@momshiedivine) April 8, 2025
Many praised the possibility of a reconciliation, noting that both artists have come a long way since their ‘The Voice Kids’ days in 2014, now thriving in their respective careers.
In a press interview last year ahead of his major concert, Juan Karlos was asked about the unresolved issue with Darren. Without naming names, he said, “We’re all grown-ups here. Love is what matters most… My door is always open.”
He also reflected on the experience, adding, “A lot of things were blown out of proportion. People tend to believe the first thing they see online without knowing the whole story.”
While Darren has yet to comment on the unexpected photo, the sight of the two sharing space without visible tension offers a glimmer of hope for fans who have followed their journey from childhood performers to established music stars.
