Paolo Contis. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA
Paolo Contis asserted that he respects Kathryn Bernardo as an actress, noting that his remark on the hit Star Cinema film “Hello, Love, Goodbye” having a “GMA artist” as its lead star was “taken out of context.”
Contis made this comment last Jan. 18 during an interview with fellow Kapuso actor Alden Richards, who starred alongside Bernardo in the hit 2019 film.
“‘Yung number one movie ng Star Cinema at ABS-CBN, taga-GMA ‘yung artista (The number one movie of Star Cinema and ABS-CBN has a GMA artist [for its lead role]). Fact,” Contis told Richards while a poster of the movie flashed on the screen. “Of course we have Kathryn as the biggest star of ABS-CBN, but you’re also the biggest star of GMA.”
This elicited negative reactions from netizens, particularly fans of Bernardo, who pointed out that Contis “disrespected” the actress and that his remark “discredited” Bernardo’s role in the film.
Contis then clarified in a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” episode on Friday that the clip of his remark, which made rounds on social media, was cut and did not include the part where he and Richards gave credit to Bernardo. Contis also noted that Richards is grateful to Bernardo and to Star Cinema for the opportunity of starring in “Hello, Love, Goodbye.”
“Medyo nagulat ako kasi it was taken out of context. Obviously, ‘yung nag-post [ay] medyo naghahanap siya ng issue,” Contis said, speaking to show host Abunda. “To be honest, kung ako naman din ‘yung fan ni Kathryn at ‘yung maikling part lang ‘yung mapapanood ko, mao-offend din naman ako.”
(I was a bit surprised because it was taken out of context. Obviously, the one who posted [the video] was looking for an issue. To be honest, if I was a fan of Kathryn and I only watched that small [part of the interview], I would also be offended.)
“However, sana lang ‘pag nakakakita sila ng gano’n they watch the whole interview,” he added. “I believe na, kumbaga, nadala nanaman tayo ng clickbait and sadly, people got mad at me and Alden.”
(However, I hope that when they see something like that, they [would proceed to] watch the whole interview. I believe that [netizens] were tricked by clickbait again and sadly, people got mad at me and Alden.)
Contis also addressed Bernardo and expressed hope that she would watch the whole interview to see that they acknowledged her, contrary to what the netizens were saying.
“I respect you as an actress. I know you’re one of the biggest actors of ABS-CBN,” he told Bernardo. “Sana mapanood mo ‘yung buong interview para ikaw mismo makita mo na nabigyang respeto ka namin do’n sa interview.” (I hope you can watch the whole video so you can see for yourself that we showed respect during the interview.)
During his conversation with Abunda, Contis also talked about his strained relationship with his three kids Xonia, Xalene and Summer. Xonia and Xalene are Contis’ children with his ex-wife Lian Paz, while Summer is his daughter with actress LJ Reyes.
Contis admitted that his biggest fear is that his children would “hate” him, given his current setup with them and their moms. The actor then noted that he does not expect his children to love him, but still hopes that they will be “civil” with him. /ra