Singer-actor James Reid opened up about two major chapters in his life—his past with Nadine Lustre and his current relationship with Issa Pressman—in a recent interview with veteran journalist Karen Davila.
Reid, who rose to fame as one-half of the iconic JaDine love team, didn’t shy away from talking about his ex-girlfriend and former on-screen partner, calling their journey a “phenomenon.”
“It was like… a phenomenon. It kind of reached a climax. It was definitely something special,” he said. “It gave me so much and I’m so grateful to the fans, to Nadine, to the love team. Also to everyone who gave us projects.”
While acknowledging the success of JaDine, the actor also pointed out the challenges that came with it.
“There was a lot of toxic culture around it. It can’t be that big and culturally impactful without having a downside.
I think it was mentally stressful for me and Nadine. And it opened up a lot of toxic kinds of behavior with the audience. But I think we’ve all learned a lot since then,” he explained.
When asked if he and Nadine are still in touch, Reid said they remain on good terms.
“I’ve seen her a few times. We’re civil. There’s no problem, certainly with me,” he shared.
“You know, I wish her all the best. She seems very happy.”
Nadine Lustre is currently in a relationship with Filipino-French businessman Christophe Bariou.
Now in a new chapter with Issa Pressman, Reid revealed that fatherhood has unexpectedly become one of his biggest goals in life.
“I think that’s taken over my priority. That’s something I wanna do and be very good at,” he said, smiling.
“That’s something that my current relationship with Issa kind of brought out in me.”
When asked when this desire to be a father first surfaced, Reid chuckled and replied, “Recently.”
While the couple has faced rumors of engagement—sparked by an Instagram post featuring Issa wearing a diamond ring—James didn’t directly confirm anything, choosing instead to keep the focus on their strong connection.
“She gives me a reason to want to be my best,” he said in a previous interview. “That’s really special. I think that’s love.”
For fans still holding out hope for a JaDine reunion, it appears that both stars are content moving forward—grateful for the past, but firmly grounded in the present.
