Christine and Axel say it was more of an act of comfort instead of a sexual advance
Vice Ganda expresses her willingness to offer an apology to a contestant in the “It’s Showtime” segment “Expecially For You” after she calls him out on live television due to an allegedly inappropriate gesture displayed during the episode.
The 48-year-old host of “It’s Showtime” has recently made buzz on the internet, particularly on TikTok, after a clip from the May 31, 2024 episode shows her being vocal towards a contestant named Axel Cruz.
The clip shows Axel, a searchee, leaning in closer to the searcher named Christine. However, Christine quickly but subtly made some distance from Axel, while Vice and some “It’s Showtime” hosts reacted.
Vice says, “Hoy, hindi pwede yun! You ask for permission. Alam mo bang pwede kang mademanda sa ginagawa mo? You don’t do that. Hindi ka pwedeng nagnanakaw ng halik.”
Axel, for his part, then proceeds to apologize and say his message for Christine. After doing so, Vice adds a few more words for the contestant. She says, “Huwag ganun ha, that’s bad. Dun ka, sasaktan kita.”
IMAGE: praybeytbenjamin on Instagram
The incident has divided the internet—with one side saying that it is only right for Vice to call out the gesture and the other saying there is a nicer, more diplomatic way to address it.
Days after the incident, Vice finally addressed the issue through a tweet she uploaded on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
Her tweet reads (published as is), “Sorry na mali ang reaction ko. Ang dating kasi sakin at sa ibang andun eh na-off si girl na sinunggaban sya ng halik and i thought na she felt violated. Since hindi naman pala I will apologize to the guy.”
Sorry na mali ang reaction ko. Ang dating kasi sakin at sa ibang andun eh na-off si girl na sinunggaban sya ng halik and i thought na she felt violated. Since hindi naman pala I will apologize to the guy. https://t.co/nSyvvrEtqG
— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) June 2, 2024
What really transpired?
Vice Ganda’s tweet is attached to Christine’s video statement published on June 1, 2024, claiming that there was actually no harm made and intended.
She says, “Hi guys, ako nga pala si Christine. So, kanina, paggising ko, nakita ko ‘tong video na ‘to,” which pertains to the clip.
She continues, “Tapos nakita ko, nabasa ko sa comments, yung iba galit tapos yung iba naman naiintindihan talaga at nakikita nila na wala naman talagang ginawang mali si Axel.
“Ang totoo po kasi niyan, wala naman po talagang balak si Axel na ibeso ako. At saka di ko talaga naramdaman na gusto niya akong ibeso. Kasi po ang nangyari, di ba, inapiran ko siya tapos parang gusto niya akong i-hug?
“Tapos, since nakaupo ako, ang awkward ng position. Ang feeling ko kasi na gusto niyang gawin, iha-hug ako tapos ita-tap niya yung likod ko. Para i-comfort ganun.
“Kaya yun, yumuko siya na banda dito,” while Christine points the vacant space between her head and shoulder.
She continues, “Ita-tap niya nga siguro ako, e—parang magtropa. Sa magtropa, di ba? Halimbawa yung tropa mo malungkot, ganun ka mag-ano, di ba, ‘Okay lang yan beh.’ ganyan.
“’Tapos, di ba, yung position na yun parang na-misinterpet ng mga hosts yun? To clarify lang po, wala po talagang nangyaring halik. Wala pong nakaw na halik na nangyari. Parang comforting lang po talaga since emotional ako nung segment.“
At the same time, Christine has expressed her admiration for Vice who she says has shown concern to her. Lastly, she offered Axel apologies, saying, “Pasensya na rin po lalo na kay Axel. Sorry, sana maging okay ka na. Pasensya ka na kung nangyari yung ganito.”
@maria_chrstnnn #stitch with @Jan Cabatoan Hello, gusto ko lang pong linawin yung nangyari kahapon sa show. actually nag comment na po ako ng statement ko sa isang vid dito sa tiktok pero stich ko na din to para may iba pang makaalam ng talagang nangyari dahil meron pa rin pong mga nag uupload ng video tungkol dito at nambabash kay axel.#expeciallyforyouchristine #expeciallyforyouaxel ? original sound – maria_chrstnnn
Axel Cruz airs sentiment on the issue with Vice Ganda
On the same day, Axel has also aired his sentiments on the issue. He says that what he actually intended to do was more of a “bro code” gesture, which includes shaking of hands before tapping the back for comfort.
However, he admits that it was his fault to do so, as Christine is not a close friend. However, he also recognizes that the angle of the camera is also a bit deceiving—which made an illusion as if he was about to kiss Christine.
Axel defends, “Hindi ko intensyong halikan si Christine. Ang gusto ko lang talaga yung bro code. Tapos siyempre hindi siya comfortable sa bangkuan niya nung oras na yun kasi maliit talaga yung bangko. Kailangan mo talagang yumuko para mapalapit sa kanya.”
Axel recalls being shocked with how the hosts and audiences received his gesture. As he puts it, “Tapos nagsigawan sila Meme Vice, ako nablangko na ako siyempre, ‘tapos napatingin ako sa mga audience.
“Parang feel ko talaga sobrang napahiya ako kasi madedemanda ako na wala naman akong masamang intensyon. Tapos ayun, yung feeling na gusto kong mag-walk out o kaya umiyak na lang, ganyan.
“Pero hindi ko ginawa, naging ano pa rin ako, parang matatag pa rin ako sa harap ng camera para kunyari, hindi ako nasaktan. Pero deep inside, sobrang sakit.”
In the end, Axel begs that he be spared from the bashing since, according to him, it hurts him very much. Lastly, he also offered Christine his apologies for being dragged into the issue.
@imaxelcruz_ #stitch with @Vin Buenaflor to clarify lang po #fyp #itsshowtime #expeciallyforyou #trendin ? original sound – Axel Cruz
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Banner Art Paulo Correa
