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Working together on the newest, figure skating series Hearts on Ice, actors Ashley Ortega and Xian Lim were placed on the hot seat as rumors linking them together spread. The actress, however, was quick to shoot them down, saying that she and her co-actor are just good friends.

In an interview on the Updated with Nelson Canlas podcast, Ashley admitted that she never thought the issue linking her and Xian will gain traction.

“Natatawa na lang kami ni Xian na parang 'Saan ba to nanggagaling?' You know, me and Xian, we're just friends and we all know naman na he's in a relationship 'di ba with someone, and I respect the relationship, I respect Xian,” she said.

She added, “Nagugulat nalang talaga ako na parang 'Ha? Saan nila nakukuha to?'”

Xian is currently in a relationship with actress Kim Chiu who has previously shown support for the show starring Xian and Ashley by sharing the teaser of Hearts on Ice in her Instagram stories.

She even wrote, “Congratulations @xianlimm, @ashleyortega.”

Ashley, meanwhile, thinks that people just assumed something was going on between them since they train in a public skating rink where people could see them training or acting out their scenes.

“May mga dance steps kami na may mga holding hands, 'di ba kasi as love teams kami sa show? So siguro nalalagyan nila ng malisya 'yon,” she said.

The actress revealed that aside from her and Xian, their skating coaches are getting bashed online and would receive hate comments almost every day.

“Nagugulat talaga kami, ang dami nilang time kasi mga paragraph talaga 'yung comments. Alam mong trolls lang, they would really make time to create an Instagram account and then just bash you all day long,” she said.

Dealing with bashers

Despite this, Ashley just chooses to ignore the bashers. She's also blocked some of them. But she admitted that some hate comments would still get to her.

“Sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na I can't get affected because this is what they want. If I allow myself to be affected ibig sabihin panalo sila, talo ako,” she said.

She added, “Alam ko naman 'yung totoong nangyayari and I don't have to really explain myself to everyone.”

Ashley also noted that since the characters they're playing are supposed to be in love, they need to act in a convincing manner.

“Alangan naman din magtitinginan kami ni Xian na walang chemistry na hindi namin mahal ang isat isa. Di ba, it's our job to make our viewers feel kilig?” she added.

MEANWHILE, TAKE A LOOK AT THE KILLER RESPONSES CELEBRITIES HAVE TO THEIR BASHERS: