SB19’s Stell (left) and Pablo | Image: Instagram/@stell16_, @imszmc_
SB19 Stell said that he doesn’t find it insulting when someone questions his sexuality, as he doesn’t see the LGBTQ+ community as a “less definition” of being a human.
“Di ko nga rin po talaga maintindihan kasi unang-una po, tingin po ba nila insulto ‘yong ganong klaseng bagay?” he told Boy Abunda. (I also don’t understand because, first of all, why would they think it counts as an insult?)
“For example lagi po akong natatanong o lagi pong nagiging issue sa akin ‘yon and I don’t mind na kung if ever man isipin nila na ganon. Kasi if ever man na ganon ako, what’s the problem? So if ever na ganoon ako, anong problema? So may issue ba tayo if for example maging bakla ako or anything naman na matawag niyo sa akin,” continued the P-pop singer.
(For example, I’m always being asked about it and I don’t mind if they think of me that way. Because if I happen to be one, what’s the problem? Would it be an issue if I’m gay or anything that you may want to call me.)
Stell remarked that, at the end of the day, humans are humans regardless of their gender orientation.
“Kasi pare-parehas naman tayong tao, pare-parehas naman tayong kumakain, pare-parehas naman tayong dumudumi. So I don’t think mayroon kang kinalamang sa akin,” he declared.
(Because we are all human. We all eat, we all defecate. So I don’t think you have an edge over me.)
Shipping
The “Room” singer also weighed in on how they are being shipped or paired up among themselves by their fans.
“Hindi namin maiiwasan ‘yon kasi kami nga minsan nagkaka-ano rin kami. Bakit parang ganon ‘yung tingin ng tao? Sa amin, parang normal naman ‘yon bilang magkakaibigan. Sa ibang tao, iba pala iniisip nila,” he said.
(We can’t avoid that because we are friends. Why do people think that way? For us, that’s just normal because we are all friends. I didn’t realize others think differently.)
However, Ken underscored that such issues might leave a bad first impression on people who don’t know them.
“Yung first impression, ‘yon talaga ang matatandaan ng mga tao, especially kapag hindi kami kilala tapos gusto nila kaming kilalanin and ‘yon ‘yung nakikita nila sa social media, about shipping, tapos nag-a-away sila just because boto sila sa ganitong ship,” he said, adding that it’s okay if it’s only for entertainment, not to the point where it will cause brawl among the fans.
(First impressions last, especially for people who don’t know us and look for us on social media and that’s the first thing they see—shipping, fighting.)
Celebrity crushes
Meanwhile, the P-pop kings were also asked about their celebrity crushes and Pablo surprised everyone with his answer when he shouted that his celebrity crush is Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves.
The issue on Pablo’s sexuality was earlier raised by former concert producer Robby Tarroza who said in a previous interview that he thought Pablo and Stell were together in a relationship.
Meanwhile Josh said his crush is Yeji of the K-pop girl group Itzy, Stell answered Filipina actress Maris Racal, Justin chose Hollywood star Saoirse Ronan as his celebrity crush, and Ken said, “Ngayon wala pa po.” (For now, I have no crush.)
The boy group debuted in 2018 and is currently making waves in both the local and international scene of music. Over the years, they released a number of hits, including “GENTO,” “MAPA,” and “Kalakal.”