How the internet reacted to the Kakai Bautista versus Mario Maurer issue

Remember the 2012 rom-com titled “Suddenly It’s Magic”? No? It was released years ago so we wouldn’t blame you. But here’s a refresher, it’s the Star Cinema movie starring Erich Gonzales and Mario Maurer. You know, the one that also had Kakai Bautista in it.

On Mar. 5, Bautista made an appearance on GMA’s “‘Mars Pa More.” In the episode, she was asked to finish statements for a game. The last and juiciest one being: “’Yung totoo, kung kaharap ko ngayon ang TOTGA or the one that got away ko, ang gusto kong sabihin sa kanya ay…”

“Dapat English eh. Charot! Baka hindi niya maintindihan ang Tagalog,” joked Bautista before answering. “Why didn’t you believe in me? It sums up all the kemerut, ganun.” The show’s hosts then asked her whether her TOTGA is a foreigner and someone they knew. Her reply? “Confirmed.”

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A post shared by ????? ???????? (@ilovekaye)

It wasn’t that hard to guess who the mystery man is, considering how Bautista has opened up about her former friendship with Mario Maurer before on shows like “Tonight With Boy Abunda.” But it seems that Mario Maurer’s camp does not look back on this past with the same fondness. On Mar. 22, Pep reported that it received a copy of a letter from the legal counsel of Maurer’s management agency Kwaonhar Nine Nine Co., Ltd. addressed to Bautista’s manager, Freddie Bautista of Artist Gallery Management. The letter’s subject read: Demanding to Cease, Desist and Refrain from further use and reference of the name of Mario Maurer.

“We would like to confirm that all the statements made by Catherine ‘Kakai’ Bautista are hereby denied as the same are all false and untrue,” the agency stated. “By so using the name of our talent, Catherine ‘Kakai’ Bautista is improperly exploiting the name, image and reputation of Mario Maurer and his manager, and may be violating existing laws of the Republic of the Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand.” It also threatened to sue and “claim for other damages and expenses incurred as a result of this matter.” Oof. You really have to be careful who you befriend.

A number of netizens reacted to the beef (if we can call it one). Some weren’t really sure as to why it’s trending but chimed that maybe it’s better not to dig up the past.

why is this old issue between kakai and mario maurer being brought to life again oh god pic.twitter.com/sF00s0EHXa

— ianne moved accs (@talaypuffs) March 25, 2021

Others defended Bautista, saying that they were disappointed with Maurer’s camp. Some even claimed that the agency got it wrong—that by mentioning his name, Bautista isn’t damaging his reputation but keeping it alive. Now, that is a spicy take.

The audacity of Mario Maurer’s Agency to come for Kakai 😒 PLEASE don’t use her name to revive your dying career pic.twitter.com/E9RXYlYIOm

— Melissa (@findmelissaa) March 25, 2021

I feel sorry for Kakai Bautista. Mario Maurer’s camp is unreasonable. I hope Mario would settle the issue. Weren’t they friends? Why is it a big issue to mention Mario’s name? Wouldn’t that be good? More people in the Philippines will know him. More potential fans. Oa naman nila

— 𝓳ꫀ𝓲-ꫀꪑ ⚯͛ △⃒⃘ (@jei3m11) March 24, 2021

While Bautista has yet to respond to the allegation that her statements are untrue, she’s been posting unbothered™ beach photos with captions sans his name, ofc.

Art by Pammy Orlina

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