Note: This story contains mentions of sexual and psychological abuse.
“I’m sorry I hurt you and there is nothing I can do to make up for it,” said “Ang Huling El Bimbo” (AHEB) actor Boo Gabunada at the start of the video he posted on Twitter in response to abuse allegations from “Tabing Ilog: The Musical” actress Krystal Kane. The two-part non-apology met backlash from fans and fellow theatre actors as Gabunada firmly stated several times in the video that he was not a rapist and attempted to discredit Kane with details about their “toxic” past relationship.
“It’s not just affecting me. It’s affecting my friends my family, and my colleagues. I know it took me long to speak because I couldn’t believe this was happening. I’ve been trying to reach out to you so you and I could talk about it, but then I realized that I was blocked,” said Gabunada in the video addressing Kane. He stated that while there were truths that he takes full responsibility for, there were also “distorted truths.” He claimed that he has unlearned his “controlling behavior” and recounted how Kane acted similarly when they were together. In the latter part of his statement, he alleged that Kane harassed, stalked and spread rumors about him after they broke up.
Today, Krystal tweeted screenshots of a message sent to her by Gabunada regarding the IGTV videos posted on June 17 where she shared her side of the story. She notes that he has yet to say sorry and that she has owned up to her own mistakes. Preen has reached out for comment from both parties and has yet to receive a response.
Actors from the theatre community have commented on the video, showing their displeasure and disappointment over Gabunada’s response. The reply of Gab Pangilinan, the actress who played Joy on AHEB, reads, “Accept. Acknowledge. Apologize. Just those three, Boo. Nothing else. Please.”
Tanya Manalang, who also took the role of Joy, stated that she wouldn’t be bailing him out as a friend and added, “Accountability and sincere apologies do not involve invalidating someone else’s feelings/trauma. ‘You did this, you did that.’ Hindi yun eh.”
Maronne Cruz said in her reply to the tweet, “You have your side to the story, I understand that, but if you have hurt someone to that degree—listen to her claims mindfully, accept the effect of your actions on her, and just apologize. There are things in this video that are incredibly invalidating.”
AHEB is currently still trending on Twitter as fans also express that they felt played by Gabunada whom many rooted for after watching him on AHEB where rape was part of the plot. Netizens are pleased that his cast members are also calling him out for refusing to issue an apology.
In the caption for the two-part video that Krystal Kane posted on IGTV, she wrote, “I’m done being silent. I am not afraid to speak up for myself. Predators need to be held accountable for their actions whether they are aware of it or not. It’s time to stop this culture of victim-blaming.” In the videos, she shared details about their relationship such as an instance where Gabunada sent her the question “We’re not gonna become like this right?” attached with a Facebook post from a mutual friend who claimed that she was sexually and psychologically abused by her ex. Kane said that through the videos, she hopes that she could encourage others going through the same thing to get out of their abusive relationships and seek out help.
Photo courtesy of Arun Thomas from Pexels
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