More than a decade after it became one of the most quoted lines in Philippine pop culture, Anne Curtis has finally spoken about the controversial “I can buy you, your friends, and this club” remark.
Curtis addressed the issue for the first time on ‘Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast’, which began streaming recently. In the episode, the actress-host revealed that the line may not have actually come from her—despite being widely attributed to her for years.
“Ito ngayon ko lang sasabihin ah. Kasi parang ang sinabi sa akin, sabi ko, sinabi ko ba talaga ’yun so I can own up to it,” Curtis said. “Sabi ng mga friends ko, no you didn’t say it. Sabi ko, ha? All this time? But you know what, it’s so iconic now, I’m gonna own it.”
The line traces back to a widely reported bar incident in November 2013 at Privé Luxury Club in The Fort, Taguig, where Curtis was involved in a heated confrontation with actor John Lloyd Cruz and others. Entertainment writer JR Isaac later recounted the incident in an article published by PEP, describing Curtis—who was then hosting a bachelorette party—as visibly upset and allegedly slapping several people during the altercation.
Isaac claimed Curtis shouted the now-infamous line while pointing at Phoemela Barranda, a moment that quickly spread through media and social platforms, cementing the quote in pop culture history.
Hours after the incident, Curtis sent Isaac a text message apologizing for her behavior.
“Just want to apologize for my behavior! I’m so so so sorry. I’m so ashamed. Would never act like that in the right state of mind!” her message read.
Curtis also publicly addressed the controversy on Twitter at the time, admitting fault and apologizing to everyone involved.
“For those who have read about the issue, yes, most of it is true. I admit to that & I have apologized to all parties included immediately,” she wrote in 2013.
She later explained that a three-day juice cleanse combined with alcohol contributed to the incident, calling it a lesson learned and vowing not to speak about it again—until now.
More than ten years later, Curtis’ candid reflection on the podcast has reopened discussion around the incident, but this time with a more nuanced perspective. While the truth behind the exact wording remains debated, Curtis’ decision to finally address it—and even “own” its legacy—has been met with renewed interest from fans and listeners.
