Alden Richards revealed that 2024 was the most difficult year of his life, describing it as his “rock bottom.”
In an exclusive interview with Nelson Canlas for GMA Integrated News, which aired on ’24 Oras’ Thursday, the Sparkle heartthrob and 2024 Box Office King didn’t hold back in describing the weight of what he went through.
“I think last year was my lowest year. Rock bottom. It took me six months to get over that. That was—hindi naman siya clinically diagnosed, but that was depression at its finest. That was depression.”
Despite his public image of strength and positivity, Alden shared that he kept his struggles hidden.
“It’s very hard to be present na kahit nandito ka, wala ka dito.”
He admitted that while he had people who loved him, his thoughts became clouded with negativity, and processing his emotions felt almost impossible.
Alden also reflected on one of his biggest realizations: his tendency to give too much of himself to others without preserving anything for himself.
“Inuuna ko muna lahat ng tao bago sarili ko. But last year, medyo—I think that was my breaking point kasi minsan ‘di ba tayo, we always go out of our way to help other people. Tulong, tulong, tulong. Bigay, bigay, bigay. Ang nangyari sa akin, paglingon ko don sa timba ko, wala na palang natira sa akin. And then that broke me to a million pieces.”
The actor didn’t go into specific details, but the emotional toll was clear in his words.
When asked about his love life, Alden expressed a firm stance against being defined by romantic relationships.
“It’s just this is my story, and this is how I want my story to be told [and] not based on the presumption of other people. I’m so done with that. I’ve been here long enough. I know I’ve done so much for the industry, and I would like to do more for the industry right now.”
Despite his personal challenges, Alden ended 2024 on a high note, being named Box Office King by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP) for his blockbuster film ‘Hello, Love, Again’ alongside Kathryn Bernardo.
He is also set to take on a new role as host of GMA Network’s upcoming dance competition ‘Stars on the Floor,’ where he will perform in a special dance number.
