Marlou Arizala, formerly known as Xander Ford, has been one of the most controversial names in Philippine showbiz. From when he first shot to fame and up to this day, it seems like controversies have kept hounding the showbiz career and personal life of Marlou.
Marlou was part of the parody boy band Hasht5, an acronym for Have a Successful Honor and Talent.
Other members of the group were Vincent Binocas, Cee Jhay Ellero, Jhimwell Macanlalay, and Erick Ebreo.
In 2015, the parody videos of Hasht5 went viral and that's when Marlou first got a taste of fame. Little did he know, he was bound to be more popular in the years to come.
Marlou's celebrity status skyrocketed when he underwent a major physical transformation in 2017. People were stunned at how much his looks have changed, and it seemed like things were starting to look up for him.
However, as with any career, Marlou has had his share of highs and lows. Contrary to what many people think of when a person suddenly becomes famous, Marlou's life didn't become “perfect.” Popularity and success came with a price for Marlou.
Furthermore, dealing with both the positive and negative things that came with fame seemed to have taken a toll on him, and has greatly affected his personal life.
And at different points in the span of his career, Marlou has been both a victim and villain in the controversies he had to deal with.
Take a look at all the controversial moments of Marlou Arizala, formerly known as Xander Ford, in this photo gallery.
Marlou Arizala shot to fame when he underwent a major physical transformation in 2017 through plastic surgery and was introduced as Xander Ford.
Just a few weeks after his transformation, Marlou gets into controversy after a video with his voice surfaced, and he was heard making bow-legged or “sakang” remarks to actress Kathryn Bernardo. He later on admitted to mocking Kathryn and apologized for it.
On October 30, 2017, he filed a case against the two individuals who posted the undated viral video of him body-shaming Kathryn Bernardo. This is Marlou's photo taken at PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group.
On November 24, 2017, Star Image Management reported that Marlou, then known as Xander Ford, was missing.
A day after he was reported missing, Marlou appeared in a Facebook video to deny reports of his alleged disappearance and revealed that he wanted to take a break from his work and social media.
In 2018, Marlou posted a photo of his wrist with wounds on it and this sparked concerns for his mental and emotional well-being.
On April 23, 2019, Star Image Artist Management suspended him for unprofessional behavior and “takes back” the Xander Ford name. This prompted Marlou to reunite with Hasht5 a month later.
On June 18, 2020, Marlou was accused of rape and physical abuse by his ex-girlfriend Ysah Cabrejas.
On December 22, 2020, Marlou was arrested for violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. The complaint was filed by his ex-girlfriend Ysah Cabrejas, who first made accusations against him back in June.