MANILA, Philippines — Actor Arjo Atayde has revealed the reason why he is at his “happiest” right now.
After months of speculation, Atayde finally ended dating rumors between him and actress-host Maine Mendoza.
“We’re exclusively dating. I’m at my happiest right now. Basta hanggang doon lang po muna,” Atayde said on Tuesday at the press conference of his movie “‘Tol.”
While he expressed joy about the real score between him and Mendoza, the actor also responded to the online bashing he receives saying, “To insult me is fine and I can take it. I’m a very passive person.”
But he said he it is a different matter when his family and Mendoza are getting involved and being disrespected.
“I don’t know how to get mad, I don’t know how to disrespect people. I despise disrespectful people. So if they disrespect me, it’s fine. But for my family to get affected, for Maine to be disrespected, like anything, that’s not okay with me.”
Atayde’s younger sibling Ria recently cried foul after some people said her brother’s success has to do with Mendoza.
“A lot of people, sinasabi that his success now has to do with her and I’m like, that’s so unfair,” Ria said in a recent interview.
READ: Ria Atayde cries foul over people crediting Arjo Atayde’s success to Maine Mendoza
Meanwhile, Mendoza has defended the celebrity siblings from a netizen who claimed that the two are using her name to receive projects.
“They get projects because of their talent, not because of any other reasons. Once and for all let’s give credit to whom its due,” Mendoza said in a tweet over the weekend.
READ: Maine Mendoza defends Arjo, Ria Atayde from netizen accusing them of ‘using’ her
Photos of Atayde and Mendoza surfaced online last October 2018 prompting netizens to speculate that the two are dating. /gsg