Lea Salonga. Images: Screengrabs from Facebook/Cristopher Retokelly Carpila
Lea Salonga is further speaking up about her now-viral encounter with fans who approached her in her dressing room, revealing that they were “escorted out of the building” but that they returned to the venue.
The Broadway star earlier reminded fans to respect her boundaries after some of her supporters pleaded for a photo opportunity in her dressing room and claimed that they were friends with “Here Lies Love” co-producer G Tongi, as seen in a video uploaded by one Cristopher Retokelly Carpila on Facebook.
Salonga made the admission regarding Carpila and fellow supporters in response to one @missimisis who expressed their concern for the singer-actress’ well-being, as seen in the former’s Twitter page last Monday, July 17.
“Oh, I neglected to mention that he and his companions rushed me on the dance floor after the show. Security had to surround me at that point because they got scared,” she said, apparently sharing that she was crowded by their group after her “Here Lies Love” performance.
“Mas malala for me (It’s more severe for me). Everyone on the dance floor that saw it was horrified and kept asking if I was okay… Not the middle, after it was over. Then I now found out they were escorted out of the building (another of our producers made sure). But, came back,” she continued.
Not the middle, after it was over. Then I now found out they were escorted out of the building (another of our producers made sure). But, came back.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 17, 2023
The singer-actress then admitted in a separate tweet that she initially gave her supporters the “benefit of the doubt” after claiming they were “friends” with G Tongi, but the show’s production staff had “no idea who they were.”
“Sooooooo here’s the kicker… the person whose name they were naming as their producer friend has no idea who they are,” she wrote. “I asked her, and she’s seen the video (all our producers have, as well as company management, house management and security). She had no idea who they were. I was giving the benefit of the doubt until the moment I heard back from her.”
Sooooooo here’s the kicker… the person whose name they were naming as their producer friend has no idea who they are. I asked her, and she’s seen the video (all our producers have, as well as company management, house management and security). She had no idea who they were. I…
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 17, 2023
In response to one @OnstageBlog, Salonga also confirmed more “stringent security regulations” will be implemented after the viral encounter, as she noted that the video was “addressed with all relevant departments.”
“Just know that this has reached the highest echelons of our producing team and has already been addressed with all relevant departments. There are now more stringent security regulations in place, and I for one will no longer be entertaining near those innermost spaces to ensure that security will have eyes on me at all times,” she said.
“It’s unfortunate that this had to happen at all. There has been so much support from online communities everywhere and for that I’m thankful! Folks need to be reminded that although we are public figures we need our private spaces, and will be guarding those sacred places with fervor,” she continued.
Hi, Chris! First off, thanks for your kindness as well as for your threads on this issue. Just know that this has reached the highest echelons of our producing team and has already been addressed with all relevant departments. There are now more stringent security regulations in…
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 17, 2023
Carpila, however, appeared to be unfazed by the dressing-room incident, as he stood firm on his encounter with Salonga on his Facebook page last Monday, July 17.
The Filipino fan also shared that he would post a video explaining his side of the story, hoping that netizens will be “fair.” /ra