Gillian Vicencio ‘traumatized’ by issue linking her to Daniel Padilla

(From left) Gillian Vicencio, Kathryn Bernardo, and Daniel Padilla. Images: Nice Print Photography via Instagram/@_gillianvicencio

Gillian Vicencio admitted she was deeply affected when her name was dragged into the breakup of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (or KathNiel) last November.

Vicencio got mired into the controversial split after she was accused of having an affair with Padilla last September, when KathNiel was still together as a real-life couple. She denied the allegations on her X (formerly Twitter) page last December.

At the sidelines of a Chinese New Year event per Inquirer Bandera, Vicencio said she was confused as to why she was involved in their split as none of the claims of her alleged involvement with Padilla were true.

“Nagulat po ako sa mga nangyari. Wala naman pong nangyari na ganu’n. First time ko pong magkaroon ng ganu’ng issue. [D’un ko] nalaman na gan’un pala kapag may issue ka sa showbiz,” she said.

(I was surprised by what happened. There’s no such thing. It’s my first time to be involved in such issues. That’s when I discovered this is what happens to a celebrity when they’re associated with such issues in showbiz.)

Vicencio pointed out she was on good terms with Bernardo and Padilla before the controversies hit, as she worked with them in the series “2 Good 2 Be True.” The actress was also among the cast of the dark comedy film “A Very Good Girl” which starred Bernardo.

“Nagkaroon din naman kami ng bonding ng [KathNiel]… Nag-message po ako [kay Kathryn] at hindi pa po kasi kami nagkikita ulit nang personal,” added Vicencio. She, however, didn’t state whether she received a response from Bernardo.

(I was able to bond with KathNiel. I messaged Kathryn to clarify my side of the story since we haven’t seen each other since.)

The actress also clarified that she had never been in contact with Padilla since the controversy.

“Hindi naman po kami nag-uusap. Matagal na rin po kaming hindi nag-uusap after noong taping. Noong taping lang talaga kami nakakapag-usap (We haven’t talked. It’s been a long time since we last talked during taping which had been the last time we talked),” she said.

Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla and Gillian Vicencio. Image: Instagram/@bernardokath, @supremo_dp, @_gillianvicencio

‘I know my truth’

Vicencio admitted that being involved in the controversies surrounding KathNiel was “traumatic,” almost to the point of her “family and friends” not leaving her side at the time.

“Hindi maiiwasan na makaramdam ka ng trauma. Hindi ko na matandaan ‘yung pinakamasakit na comment kasi marami po,” she said. “Siyempre maaapektuhan ka naman talaga. Hindi maganda ang mga sinasabi. Dahil sa family and friends ko na hindi ako iniwan kaya medyo okay naman po ako ngayon.”

One of the friends whom the actress noted was host and comedian Jhai Ho who bravely stood up for her when the former received the brunt of negative remarks on social media.

“Sobrang thankful ako kay Mama Jhai kasi hindi niya ako ever iniwan. Nandiyan siya to guide me (I’m so thankful to Mama Jhai because he never left me alone. He was there to guide me),” she said.

She, however, remained firm that she knows herself and “her truth” despite the controversy. “I cannot control the minds of other people. At least I know myself and my truth.”

While Bernardo and Padilla didn’t confirm nor deny the allegations involving Vicencio, eagle-eyed netizens noted that the actress unfollowed the latter on Instagram in January.