JK Labajo, Darren Espanto spotted chatting after spat, libel charge in 2019
(From left) JK Labajo and Darren Espanto. Images: Kieffer Carrascal via Instagram/@juankarlos, Jumigo Rafols via @darrenespanto, @iamkarendavila
Seven years after their controversial spat, JK Labajo and Darren Espanto have seemingly mended their friendship and are now talking after they were spotted chatting at the recent ABS-CBN Ball.
A photo uploaded by broadcaster Karen Davila on Instagram showed Labajo and Espanto chatting in the background, together with another man.
Labajo and Espanto were spotted talking with an unidentified guest at the star-studded gala at the Solaire North last April 4, as seen in a joint Instagram post by Karen Davila and Small Laude.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@iamkarendavila
Both singer-actors who are batchmates in “The Voice Kids” season one, Labajo and Espantoo have yet to directly address their seeming reconciliation.
Labajo and Espanto’s social media word war made headlines in October 2018 after the “Ex Ex Lovers” star tagged Espanto in a post that said, “gayness at its finest” on the then-Twitter. This led to the “Can’t Buy Me Love” star calling out the former, while challenging him to identify his alleged “hacker.”
Espanto eventually apologized, although his mother Marinel Gonzales-Espanto filed a cyber libel complaint against Labajo in 2019.
In 2020, Espanto said his friendship with Labajo is not worth rekindling while adding that he doesn’t want to dwell on their feud anymore.
Four years later, the “Ere” singer told reporters in an October 2024 ambush interview that the cyber libel complaint had been dismissed and that he’s open to collaborating with Espanto in the future.
“That’s always there. But then again more than anything, it’s time that heals all wounds. It’s really time and growth that heals all wounds. All of these negative thoughts are things don’t deserve our energy. Because walang magandang maibabalik sa atin ‘yun (nothing good will come out of it),” he added, when asked about his past rift with Espanto.
