BINI member Maloi Ricalde has spoken out against circulating rumors linking her to singer-songwriter Rico Blanco after photos of them together in La Union went viral on social media.
The buzz started when snapshots showing Maloi and Rico walking side by side surfaced online, with some netizens speculating about the nature of their connection. Adding to the frenzy were photos shared by Ben&Ben members Pat and Agnes Lasaten, which showed Rico, Maloi, and other friends enjoying a group outing.
— Maloi Ricalde ౨ৎ (@bini_maloi) January 9, 2025
In response to the speculation, Maloi took to X (formerly Twitter) to dispel the rumors and called out a news article fueling the gossip.
“STOP SPREADING FAKE NEWS. PLS LANG,” she wrote alongside a screenshot of the misleading headline.
STOP SPREADING FAKE NEWS . PLS LANG. https://t.co/OVVpobyxt9
— Maloi Ricalde ౨ৎ (@bini_maloi) January 9, 2025
The post garnered strong support from her fans, with many demanding an apology from the outlet responsible for the report.
Despite the backlash, the post was eventually taken down, though screenshots had already circulated widely.
ewan ko kung t4nga lang ba siya o ano eh, oo na silang dalawa yung “mas sikat” kaya nagtrending yung video pero bakit ganiyan yung unang headline? “New year, new love?” mukha ba kaming pinanganak lang kahapon?? kapikon
PHILSTAR APOLOGIZE TO MALOI pic.twitter.com/OvIcX1jyOZ
— maíze.⋆ (@mikholetslovie) January 9, 2025
Hi @PhilstarNews, here’s a simple way to take accountability for posting fake news. Please uphold your commitment to combating fake news and only providing in depth and fact checked reports. stop spreading misinformation.
PHILSTAR APOLOGIZE TO MALOI pic.twitter.com/G36GiIolQx
— franz (@acegirljendeuk) January 9, 2025
May mga tao talaga na hindi nakukuntento sa pag gawa ng issue, pati hindi kasali dinadamay.@PhilippineStar apologize to Maloi, nakakahiya kayo. Mag-pupublish nalang kayo, fake news pa? Ano, tapos sabay restrict kayo ng comments sa IG?
APOLOGIZE TO MALOI. SHE DESERVES IT.
— zee (@lovablejho) January 9, 2025
may ganito na nga, sinapawan pa ng philstar. an official statement is needed to set the record straight @starmagicphils. back your artist up. don’t disappoint us this time.
PHILSTAR APOLOGIZE TO MALOI pic.twitter.com/j6Wigj41es
— ⭑ (@stakuonmars) January 9, 2025
Maloi clarified that she was part of a larger group of music personalities, including Zild Benitez, Blaster Silonga, and the Lasaten siblings. Instagram stories from the trip also confirmed that the outing was a group activity and not an intimate getaway.
Fans of BINI, known as Blooms, criticized the spread of baseless information and urged for responsible reporting. Many expressed their disappointment that Maloi, a rising star in the P-pop industry, was embroiled in an unnecessary controversy.
