ALDEN RICHARDS, MAINE MENDOZA

ALDEN Richards once again found himself having to explain that he and former onscreen partner Maine Mendoza “never got married,” nor do they have a “love child,” as he sought to quash the long-running rumors fostered by some fans.

During an interview with Toni Gonzaga, which was posted on her YouTube channel on Tuesday, Jan. 2, Richards addressed the “crazy storytelling” involving him and Mendoza, who in July last year wed actor-politician Arjo Atayde.

In one part of the vlog, a screenshot of a fan’s comment was flashed on the widescreen television behind Richards and Gonzaga, which claimed to have proof that the former love team got married and have “three kids.”

“Sobrang daming crazy rumors. Meron silang sariling storytelling. And all along, akala ko since na Maine and Arjo Atayde became public and they eventually got married, [akala ko mawawala na] pero nandyan pa rin. I already said my piece about this. It’s not true,” he said.

Richards has in the past already denied the allegations of tying the knot and bearing kids with the “EAT” host last March 2023. In November 2022, Mendoza also confessed that she’s become tired of “calling out” those espousing stories about her alleged romantic involvement with the “Family of Two” star.

After pointing out that he doesn’t have a “love child” with Mendoza, Richards admitted that he, too, had grown tired of calling out the rumor-mongers.

“Wala kaming anak. We never got married. We don’t have a love child. But I’m at that point na masaya po sila doon eh. Tatanggalin ko pa ba? Ira-rub ko pa ba sa mga buhay na wala na?” he said.

“I’m not that kind of person. I support the happiness of people,” he further added.

Richards also revealed that he had a “heart-to-heart” talk with Mendoza before she wed Atayde in July 2022, where he apparently “told her everything.” He, however, didn’t expound on the topic.

Gender Issue

The actor then admitted that he’s tired of defending himself whenever he was being labeled as “gay” just because he’s not in a relationship with anyone.

“‘Yung gender issue, kung tingin niyong bading [ako], then fine. Ang iniisip ko sa mga rumors na ‘yun, wala na bang iba? ‘Yung judgment sa mga lalaki sa industriya ay [madaling i-assume] just because of that,” he said.

During the interview, Richards also noted that “some people tend to abuse kindness,” but he already reached a point in his career where he got tired of being a “people pleaser.”

Richards, who turned 32 last Jan. 2, was recently nominated for Best Actor for his performance in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Family of Two,” a movie with Sharon Cuneta.

He is set to star in the upcoming series “Pulang Araw” and the movie “Out of Order.” (Hannah Mallorca © Philippine Daily Inquirer)