MANILA, Philippines?There?s a disturbing rumor that Lead Star in a major scandal received P4 million to participate in a raging moro-moro?a rather noisy affair that makes reality TV shows look like a fantaserye.
Another Major Player is reportedly willing to part with at much as P1 billion to save Beleaguered Colleague?s face.
Sex video hysteria
If you thought public fascination for the Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili sex video scandal has waned, think again. New names are being dragged into the fray.
Latest victim is KC Concepcion who is abroad and cannot defend herself. KC?s involvement seems to have been sparked by an on-air banter between two radio hosts.
Denials from all camps came swiftly and furiously?most notably from Lolit Solis, who claims to have seen all of Hayden Kho?s videos.
Lolit insists that KC is nowhere near a sex scandal at any point and that people just surmised she?s somehow involved just because she?s a friend of Tim Yap, Hayden Kho?s fellow contestant on ?Celebrity Duets? two years ago.
Guilt by two degrees of separation?
But this from a source closer to KC: ?No way! And rumors such as that one should never even be dignified with a statement. Please don?t quote me.?
Got that.
At press time, more names are being added to the scandal, including a sex siren and a concert performer. And a gay TV host.
Ay, anuvayan!
What?s to be learned from this ... this cyber witch hunt?
A media critic pointed out that the Philippine government should have handled the Hayden-Katrina controversy the way Hong Kong authorities dealt with the Edison Chen sex video scandal?discreetly.
?Hong Kong police quietly investigated the matter and the perpetrators were caught. Also, Chen and the actresses involved ... were not accorded much publicity,? MC noted.
MC asserted?rightly, we must say?that the over-the-top media attention given to the scandal only serves to whet public appetite for bootleg copies of the sex videos.
?Only the people who are circulating these pirated DVDs stand to gain from the continued media coverage of this scandal,? MC insisted.
In the meantime, who is covering children?s eyes and ears?
Battling tandem
Together, and after years of struggle, Comic Duo achieved considerable success. But the price of fame seems to be ... enmity.
There?s a persistent rumor that the two comics hate each other?s guts now. A source alleges that, during a shoot, CD1 refused to lend his Bible to CD2.
Yeah, that bad.
Bitter half
Speaking of bitter halves, there?s talk that Matinee Idol is reconciling with Former Sweetheart.
Quite naturally, MI is only too happy to fan the flames of controversy. But as far as FS is concerned, a reunion is far-fetched. In fact, FS thinks MI is a fake?or is it a flake?
At a recent gathering, FS wondered loud about certain people who suddenly acquired a foreign-sounding twang?obviously alluding to MI?s unfamiliar American accent.
Triple whammy
It comes in threes for Kapuso talents. After the sex video scandal involving Katrina Halili and the sexual harassment case of Yasmien Kurdi (against Baron Geisler) comes an ?acts of lasciviousness? suit slapped by a teenaged girl against Aljur Abrenica.
A network insider told Rushes that GMA 7 is seriously looking into the matter.
In the meantime, June Ambrosio, Aljur?s lawyer, has released a statement, which reads in part: ?The controversy... appears to be a case of misunderstanding... Aljur is constantly careful in his dealings with fans, always upholding the highest standards in gentlemanly behavior... as instilled in him by his parents and further honed by his home studio.?
Missed X
According to scuttlebutt, Cristine Reyes replaced fellow ?Starstruck? alumna Katrina Halili as the lead in the remake of the Vilma Santos sexy movie, ?Miss X.?
Sought for comment, Halili?s camp insisted that production company OctoArts hasn?t informed them of the latest development.
Criss-crossing Cristine
Now, there?s talk that Cristine Reyes is leaving ABS-CBN and moving back to GMA 7.
A Kapuso insider told Rushes that the rumor is indeed making the rounds, but that the network?s Artist Center isn?t part of the brewing deal?if there?s any at all.
Ara Mina claimed that she?s clueless about sister Cristine?s plans.
Officially, though, Cristine hasn?t categorically denied the gossip. A source believes Cristine?s camp is waiting for a counter-offer from ABS-CBN.
Until further notice.
Wrong sistah!
Gorgeous Celebrity is allegedly the reason that Handsome Actor broke up with Non-Showbiz Gal.
Funny thing is, according to a mole, GC?s Younger Brother is the culprit. Nope, YB didn?t steal NSG. It?s HA who?s supposedly ?close? to YB.
Uh-oh.
Remorseful?
Ex-Lover describes Scandal Hound as a remorseful victim. But SH was spotted in Rockwell, malling without a care in the world. When passersby gawked, SH waved at them?as if relishing his infamy. Asked by a friend if notoriety is enjoyable, SH smiled enigmatically.
Happy birthdays!
Today: Tom Jones is 69. Liam Neeson is 57. William Forsythe is 54. Dave Navarro is 42.
Tomorrow: Joan Rivers is 76. James Darren is 73. Boz Scaggs is 65. Sonia Braga is 59. Nick Rhodes is 47. Dan Futterman is 42. Kanye West is 32.
June 9: Guitarist-inventor Les Paul is 94. Michael J. Fox is 48. Johnny Depp is 46. Natalie Portman is 28.
June 10: Jeanne Tripplehorn is 46. Elizabeth Hurley is 44.
June 11: Gene Wilder is 76. Hugh Laurie is 50. Shia LaBeouf is 23.
* * *
Top of the tabloids
The top show biz stories in PDI tabloid Bandera this week. (And why we are moved, if we are moved.)
?Gerald Anderson handang pumatay para kay Kim Chui. (Pumatay ng ano kaya?)
?Kim nagpalaki ng boobs. (Patay.)
?Darna costume ni Angel Locsin pinahiram kay Marian Rivera. (Height matters not with this getup, does it?)
?Shaina Magdayao nagkulong sa CR dahil kay John Prats. (Di naman sila magkasama e.)
?Resbak ni Mark Herras kay Baron Geisler: Konti na lang yari ka na! (Resbak ni Baron: Do I know you? Joke!)
?Judy Ann Santos: Gusto ko nang mabuntis. (About time.)
?Agot Isidro hindi na umaasang mabuntis (No more time?)
?Heart Evangelista: Ayoko nang magka-boyfriend! (Take some time.)
?Angelica Panganiban inis kay Kristine Hermosa; baka ahasin si Derek Ramsay. (Exciting ?to.)
?Aling Dionisia Pacquiao tinalbugan si Lucy Torres. (At si Jinky Pacquiao!)
E-mail: rushes@inquirer.com.ph
