In a recent episode of ‘It’s Showtime,’ Vice Ganda found himself embroiled in controversy after intervening in an incident involving contestant Axel Cruz during the ‘EXpecially For You’ segment.
The controversy erupted when Cruz allegedly attempted to kiss fellow contestant Maria Christine after being eliminated from the competition.
The incident unfolded as Cruz approached Christine for a high-five but then appeared to move in for a kiss, prompting Vice Ganda to step in immediately. “Oy, hindi pwede yun, that’s bad!” Vice Ganda exclaimed on air. “Don’t do that, you ask for permission. Alam mo bang pwede kang mademanda sa ginagawa mo? Don’t do that, hindi ka pwedeng biglang nagnanakaw ng halik.”
Following the episode, Axel Cruz took to Facebook to clarify his actions and address the ensuing backlash. Cruz explained that his intention was never to kiss Christine and attributed the misunderstanding to the camera angle, which made the interaction appear more intimate than it was.
“Hello everyone, Gusto ko lang i-clear at clarify about sa segment ng its showtime ng expecially for you. Una sumali ako for fun lang then go with the flow sa mga kulitan at asaran tapos nung time na mag mememeet na kami nung girl yung mga hindi nya pinili ay papalapit palang ako ay naka handa na umapir ang kamay ng girl sakin,” Cruz wrote.
He described the sequence of events, noting that after the high-five, he intended to perform a “BroCode” shoulder bump with Christine, but she moved away, creating an awkward moment that was misinterpreted by the hosts and viewers alike.
“Then nag apir kame after ng apir is shake hands ko sya, ang gagawin ko dapat ay yung ginagawa ng karaniwan its a ‘BroCode’ after shake hands dikit balikat eh umiwas si girl. Akala nya kikiss ko sya or beso again im not intended to kiss her, and yung angle ng cam akala hinatak or pinilit ko, nakaupo po sya nun hindi maabot kaya ganun ang nangyare. After that meme vice call out na bawal daw ang ginawa ko to trying kiss or nakawan sya ng halik, nablanko na ako non di ko na alam gagawin ko.”
Cruz also addressed the negative comments and threats he received on social media, urging people to refrain from spreading the unedited video for viral purposes. He apologized if his actions were misconstrued and emphasized that his intentions were purely friendly.
@nickmyap #CapCut #AxelCruz #Axel #Christin #especiallyforyou #viceganda #annecurtis #vhong #jhong #Ryan #trendingnow #viralnow #millionviews Tunay na nangyari kina axel at Christin #safotniAxel #ViceGanda #GandangGabiVice #especiallyforyou #abscbn #kapamilya
Meanwhile, Maria Christine shared her perspective on TikTok, confirming that Axel Cruz had no intention of kissing her and that the incident was a misunderstanding.
“Ang feeling ko kasi na gusto niya gawin, iha-hug niya ako, tapos ita-tap niya yung likod ko. Para yung comfort, ganun, parang tropa. Iga-ganyan niya. Kaya yun, yumuko siya na banda dito [sa shoulder], kasi itatap niya nga siguro ako e. Parang mag-tropa,” Christine explained in her video.
In response to the controversy, Vice Ganda acknowledged his mistake in interpreting the situation and expressed his readiness to apologize to Axel Cruz. “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, I will apologize to the guy,” Vice Ganda stated.
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
The incident has sparked discussions on the importance of clear communication and respect for personal boundaries, especially in public settings like live television.
