Maris Racal has admitted that her growing feelings for her screen partner, Anthony Jennings, played a part in her recent breakup with Rico Blanco, her partner of five years.
In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News on Friday, December 6, the ‘Incognito star’ revealed the challenges she faced as emotions surfaced between her and Anthony, leading her to come clean to Rico.
“When I sensed that there was growing attention between Anthony and I, nadala ako sa emotions ko. And I knew that was wrong,” Maris candidly shared.
The actress explained her decision to be honest about the situation. “I came clean right away. I told my ex everything and I admitted things to him. And then we broke up. It wasn’t easy. It was very hard for me. I announced the break up. The reason why I became so emotional during the interview is because I was holding back the truth, yun yung totoo,” she said, adding that her initial public statements downplaying Anthony’s involvement were made in an effort to control the narrative.
Maris’ confession marks a significant shift from her previous claim that Anthony had no role in her split from Rico. In July, during a Star Magic event, she described their breakup as “fresh” and emotionally difficult, stating, “Anthony is out of the picture. It’s just mainly me and Rico. Mainly me, I’m the issue.”
Now, the actress is taking full accountability for her actions. “Today I will take the accountability for everything. Nagkamali ako and I want to say sorry for everything that I have done,” Maris said in her recent interview.
The controversy began following allegations from Anthony’s ex-partner, who accused him of infidelity. Fans speculated about a real-life connection between Maris and Anthony, whose on-screen chemistry in the Kapamilya series ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ made them a popular tandem known as SnoRene.
Their successful partnership continued with projects such as the Netflix social series ‘Bida/Bida’ and a string of endorsements. However, the professional pairing also fueled public scrutiny about their personal relationship.
Reflecting on her breakup with Rico, Maris described it as one of the most challenging periods of her life. During the July announcement, she called the experience “the loneliest and emptiest weeks I’ve ever experienced.”
Now, her revelations shed new light on the situation, painting a more complex picture of the emotions and decisions that led to the end of her relationship.
