Jillian Ward finally broke her silence on the four-year-long allegations about her lavish lifestyle and rumors of her being a “sugar baby.”
Photo: Niko Gonzales/Instagram
In an October 21 episode of Fast Talk With Boy Abunda, Jillian explained that she initially didn’t feel the need to address the allegations since they weren’t true. However, she decided to speak up now as the rumors continue to resurface every year—a controversy that started when she was only 16 years old.
“Noong nagbasa po ako ng comments, sobrang na-hurt na po talaga ako kasi sobra po ‘yung pangbabastos ng mga tao because of fake news (When I read the comments, I was really hurt because people were being so disrespectful because of the fake news). So, it took me four years to speak up about it. ‘Yung pinaka-turning point din po sa ‘kin is ‘yung family ko. Binabastos na rin po, especially my mom. So, sabi ko enough na po (The turning point for me was my family. They were being disrespected too, especially my mom. That’s when I said, enough),” she said.
False stories surrounding her began when she bought her own car when she was 16-years-old. According to rumors, the car was supposedly a gift from a benefactor.
The speculation resurfaced when she held a lavish debut celebration at 18, with claims that a “sponsor” had financed the event and was even seen with her in alleged CCTV footage.
However, she firmly denied all these longstanding rumors, clarifying that everything she owns was purchased with her own money.
“Tito Boy. Lahat ng meron ako, binili ko with my own money. With my own hard work money,” she asserted. “Lahat po ‘yan may resibo po ako. Lahat ng investments ko (I have receipts for all of my investments). I’m very open about it. Alam po ng GMA lahat ng mga naging investments ko din kasi (GMA also knows about all the investments I’ve made because they’ve been aware of them) they’re giving me advices, they’re guiding me kung paano ko po maaalagaan ‘yung iniipon ko (how I can grow and take care of my savings), especially my parents.”
The 20-year-old actress became emotional when questioned about allegations that her own mother was exploiting her. She emphasized that her mother has no control over her finances and has always been supportive of her career.
“Sobrang sakit talaga (It really hurts), Tito Boy. Kasi my parents didn’t raise me that way. And lahat ng meron ako, pinagpaguran ko (Everything I have, I worked hard for). And my mom would never do that to me. And sobrang nasasaktan ako kasi hindi po talaga gano’n ‘yung mom ko. Ta’s nadadamay po siya sa lahat ng ‘to. Nananahimik ‘yung mother ko (It really hurts me because my mom isn’t like that at all. She’s getting dragged into all of this even though she hasn’t done anything. My mother has always stayed quiet),” she remarked.
Then, she told Tito Boy that she and GMA have been contemplating filing charges against people who continue to lambast her and spread fake news about her character.
“Every week na lang po may fake news about me, and honestly, gusto na rin po namin ng GMA na mag-take ng legal action kasi cyberlibel na rin talaga (Every week, there’s fake news about me, and honestly, GMA and I are already considering taking legal action because it’s really a case of cyber libel). It’s not right,” she said.
“It’s too much, especially nga po na it started nung minor po ako. Sobra na rin po talaga (since it all started when I was still a minor. It’s really gone too far),” she added.
Jillian Ward began her acting career as a child actress when she debuted in the drama-comedy “Trudis Liit” in 2010.
Her 15-year career has featured a long list of popular dramas, including “Prima Donnas,” “Abot-Kamay na Pangarap,” and “My Ilonggo Girl,” among others.
In 2023, she received the German Moreno Youth Achievement Award at the FAMAS Awards.
ALSO READ: Jillian Ward Graduates From Senior High School as First Honor
