Kapamilya actor Zaijian Jaranilla has issued a public apology after receiving backlash over comments made during a TikTok Live session that involved fellow actor Ralph de Leon and other cast members of ‘High Street’.
The remarks, which involved Kapuso ‘Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition’ housemates Dustin Yu and Vince Maristela, drew ire from netizens, especially fans of the two Sparkle artists.
Clips from the May 15 TikTok Live quickly circulated online. In one part of the video, Ralph was asked by viewers who he thought should be in the PBB Big 4. Before Ralph could respond, he turned to his friends in the room and asked, “Guys, sino bang Big 4 natin?”
While fellow cast members Gela Atayde and Tommy Alejandrino named Xyriel Manabat—their former High Street co-star—Zaijian could be heard in the background saying: “Huwag niyo nang iboto si Dustin!”
The statement, although said in jest, prompted immediate concern and was followed by Ralph saying “Huy” to caution Zaijian, who quickly replied, “Sorry, sorry.”
In another portion of the Live, a viewer commented that Tommy looked like Vince Maristela. Zaijian then interjected, reportedly saying “adik” twice, which was interpreted by netizens as a derogatory remark directed at Vince.
As criticisms mounted on social media, Zaijian addressed the issue via Instagram Stories, apologizing for the misunderstanding and clarifying that his remarks were not meant to offend.
“Huy easy lang! Sorry na huwag na kayo magalit. At huwag niyo idamay yung mga kaibigan ko sa opinyon ko,” he wrote. “Di ba pwede biruin idol niyo? Sorry na ✌️”
He ended the message with the hashtag: #KungSiLordNagpapatawadKayoPa.
Zaijian’s ‘High Street’ co-star Gela Atayde also issued a statement to clarify what happened and to defend her friends.
“Hi everyone! Just wanted to clarify a few things, especially since things are starting to get out of hand.”
Gela explained that Ralph and Dustin are actually good friends, and the comment from Zaijian was a personal opinion, not representative of Ralph’s views.
“First, nobody saw the part where Ralph told us off-cam that he and Dustin are actually good friends. 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.”
Regarding the “adik” remark allegedly aimed at Vince, Gela clarified: “About Vince, to clarify, Zaijian wasn’t referring to him at all. He was teasing Tommy in a private, joking context—not seriously calling anyone names. It was an inside joke among friends that was never meant to hurt or bully anyone.”
She ended her post with an apology: “We fully acknowledge that some actions came off wrong, and for that, we’re sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Reactions remain mixed online. While many fans accepted the apologies, others expressed disappointment, saying public figures should be more cautious even when joking.
Zaijian, known for his wholesome image as Santino in the hit series ‘May Bukas Pa’, has been vocal in his support for Xyriel Manabat throughout her ‘PBB’ journey—previously urging fans to save her from eviction in a May 7 IG Story.
With emotions still running high, both actors and their management teams have not released official statements beyond the social media posts.
