EJ Obiena slams fake news against Carlos Yulo: 'I am friends with Caloy'
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EJ Obiena expressed frustration over false news about his friendship with two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo.
On his Facebook account, EJ, who currently ranked third in the 2024 World Athletics Rankings for pole vaulting, shared his photo with Carlos to clarify their relationship.
He began his statement by highlighting the misleading news about them.
EJ said, "I have hoped and tried to stay silent and not fuel anymore of the misleading stories. It's a sad state of affairs when stories are fabricated to get clicks and likes and shares. Journalism is a noble profession driven by FACTS. It's a shame it is sometimes abused.
Then, he stressed that he and Carlos are long-time friends and expressed deep respect for him as a fellow Filipino athlete.
"I am friends with Caloy and have been for many years. And for decades to come. I don't compete with my friend Caloy and I deeply respect him. He is a great champion for our country and I applaud him. I am proud of him. I am thankful for the glory he has brought our country."
While he's friends with his fellow athlete, EJ denied commenting on Carlos's personal life.
"I don't comment on my private life and I certainly don't want outsiders commenting on it. That's why it's called “Private life”. It's personal. It's nobody else's business. Because I embrace these values, I never comment on someone else's personal life," he said.
EJ added, "I HAVE NEVER MADE A SINGLE COMMENT regarding Caloy's private life and I never shall. Any assertion otherwise is outright libel. I know when to keep my mouth shut; and when it comes to anyone's private life this is one of those times."
In conclusion, EJ warned netizens about fake news and the importance of verifying information with reliable sources. He also urged everyone to focus on supporting the athletes rather than indulging in drama.
"If you ever want to know what I say, come here or my other social media and you'll see it. If some clickbait site is making up stories to suck you into the drama, recognize it for what it is. It's abuse. It's not journalism," he remarked.
EJ ended, "That's it. Thank you and I shall have no further comment on the matter. I am focused on getting ready for the upcoming season. Let's focus on cheering our athletes on, instead of creating false drama to sell advertising space."
In the meantime, EJ is preparing to return to competition early next year, depending on the results of an upcoming MRI scan to assess whether his spine injury from the Silesia leg of the Diamond League has healed.
“I really would prepare for the indoor season next year. January, February, around late March,” he explained in a previous interview.
EJ mentioned he plans to return to Italy to continue his recovery and start training for future events. He highlighted the MRI scan's significance in ensuring his bones are fully healed. “We'll know [the results] in a few weeks,” he added.
Meanwhile, here are other athletes who represented the Philippines in the Paris 2024 Olympics:
