The year 2020 proved to be very challenging, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On top of the health crisis, several typhoons have also wreaked havoc in the country.
It indeed seems like a tumultuous year for everyone. No one was spared from the challenges that the year has brought on, including Filipino celebrities.
While some celebrities were met with economic and health problems, some have to deal with other difficult situations on a personal front, such as a breakup.
Here are some of the shocking and controversial celebrity breakups of 2020 that took many by surprise.
On November 19, Derek Ramsay confirmed his breakup with Andrea Torres through a reply to a netizen. He also defended Andrea from false accusations by saying, "Please don't point the finger at anyone. There is nothing wrong with Andrea. She is a great woman. There is no third party! The breakup has happened so fast. Maybe two people are just not meant to be.”
Many were surprised when Kapuso comedian Buboy Villar and his longtime partner Angillyn Gorens confirmed their split in early October. Buboy revealed in his vlog that they've actually broken up two years prior to the announcement and that there was no third party involved. The ex-couple has two children together, Vlanz Karollyn and George Michael.
Rhian Ramos confirmed her breakup with Israeli boyfriend Amit Borsok on September 24. In her vlog titled “Breakups, Decisions, and Your Assumptions,” she revealed that they split up over a month ago. The announcement was made after people speculated that she had an eating disorder due to her apparent weight loss. Rhian said, “I gave a little look at the condo while we're moving out, and somehow inside of that moving out period, I went through a breakup. It was so hard. I really had a hard time, guys.”
Vlogger-singer-actress Donnalyn Bartolome announced her breakup with her boyfriend through a different kind of “unboxing” vlog. In her vlog titled "Araw ng Patay Kong Puso," she “unboxed” her belongings that her ex-boyfriend sent back. She said they had actually broken up six months ago and kept mum on the identity of her ex, who she said was a “private person.”
Last September, Toni Aquino, daughter of 'Eat Bulaga' host Ruby Rodriguez, confirmed through her IG story that she and non-showbiz fiancé Ricardo “Rick” Centurion have broken up. Toni and her Rick, who is from the U.S. Army, got engaged back in 2018.
Kamikazee frontman Jay Contreras and his wife, former child star, Sarah Abad have parted ways after 11 years of marriage. The breakup was confirmed by Sarah on her IG story by saying, “Please know that Jay and I will remain good friends and loving parents to our kids. It would be a new journey for both of us.” Days before confirming the breakup, Sarah replied to Jay's Mother's Day greeting on IG with, ““It may not be the same between us, but I'll forever grateful for giving me two wonderful angels. Thank you.”
Actor-model Daniel Matsunaga confirmed that he and Polish model-girlfriend Karolina Pisarek have called it quits in an IG comment in early March. A netizen asked, “Sad. Bakit feeling ko, wala na kayo ni Piekna?” and Daniel's short reply was, “Tama ka.” Daniel and Karolina publicly admitted their relationship in 2017 and celebrated their second anniversary in August 2019.
Vloggers Caffey Namindang and Christian Merck Grey, more popularly known as “Makaganda” and “Makagwapo,” also had a controversy-filled split. Caffey accused Christian of cheating on her with travel vlogger Pam Esguerra, forcing her to do daring scenes in their vlogs, and that he wasn't giving Caffey her fair share in the earnings of their YouTube channel. Pam has denied Caffey's allegations and Caffey and Christian eventually resolved their issues and parted ways amicably.
Kapuso comedienne Gladys Guevarra and her non-showbiz boyfriend Leon Sumagui had a very controversial breakup back in early September. Gladys claimed that Leon ran away with her money, which the latter vehemently denied.
Celebrity couple James Reid and Nadine Lustre confirmed their split in January. The two have remained close friends and were spotted together on several occasions post-breakup, leading many to speculate that they may have reconciled. James and Nadine have yet to confirm or deny reconciliation rumors.