’It’s not the end for them. Filipinos are generally forgiving. – Kelly Austria’
Arguably, one of the biggest news to rock Philippine entertainment in 2024 was the “screen shot” scandal involving Maris Racal and her “Can’t Buy Me Love” onscreen partner Anthony Jennings. Everyone knows by now how Anthony’s ex-girlfriend, content creator Jam Villanueva, posted screen shots of private conversations between Maris and Anthony indicating that “MaThon” was more than just a teleserye pair, and that there was more than a professional relationship between the love team during the time Anthony was still with Jam.
For days, even weeks, the issue was what the public talked about and obsessed over. Memes were created. People took sides; the alleged lovers were vilified and the ex-GF was given support. Endorsement deals were lost. The matters about data privacy and possible legal action were also discussed online and in radio programs.
Maris gave a tearful statement on how the controversy has made her feel “naked” and embarrassed wherever she went. Likewise, Anthony issued a short apology.
The incident could be considered a crisis PR of the most challenging kind. Even veteran PR practitioners were surprised by how the “MaThon-gate” occupied the public space. “I was amazed by how everyone talked about it, and from all sectors… from my ‘burgis’ classmates from the exclusive school in Katipunan to my humble staff from communities,” recalls PR and marketing professional Boom Enriquez. “It touched a universal nerve.”
Mr. Enriquez then discovered that cheating or being involved with someone else while in a committed relationship was more rampant than he thought. “Actually, for some, it’s normal,” he says. “Hence, people consumed or related to the issue because it’s the reality on the ground.”
In the world of showbiz, disruptions like this are nothing new. But each time something like this comes out, people are engrossed, invested.
We remember the then young female singer who was married with a daughter but chose to run away with her comedian-movie co-star, to the anger of the comedian’s partner (host of an extremely popular musical variety show) with whom he had a child.
Or the acclaimed female singer who got in between a singer-actor and his actress-GF. (The singer-actor and his actress-GF reconciled and eventually got married and had two sons.). The same female singer got involved with a married singer who later broke up with his beauty queen wife. When the male singer was legally free, he wed the female singer and now they have a son.
Were the careers of the mentioned erring stars destroyed by the misconduct?
No.
In fact, they transcended the bad press and continued to thrive in their professional lives. They still enjoy good careers to this day.
As for “MaThon,” Mr. Enriquez offers this advice. “You know what I’m going to ask them to do? Just say yes, we made a mistake, say sorry and do lots of community work.”
Scandal in the age of social media may seem unbearable but Maris and Anthony can take some solace, says PR maven Kelly Austria. “No, it’s not the end for them. Filipinos are generally forgiving. What matters most to Filipinos is a genuine and sincere apology.”
They say you can’t put a good man (or, for that matter, a good woman) down. Hopefully Maris and Anthony have enough talent and goodwill to weather the storm and emerge wiser than ever.
