“I Love You, Hater” disappointed in the box office. But co-stars Julia Barretto and Kris Aquino stood by each other and showed their love for each other as more than just co-stars of a movie that did not do well with the audience.
Barretto, 21, poured her heart out in an Instagram post, which she called an open letter: “In my whole journey as an actress, more often I was doubted. I was judged. I had to deal with scrutiny from people who did not know me, who made me suffer the consequences of the mistakes I did not commit, and people did not give me a chance. People did not give me the chance to make some mistakes, learn and to better myself.”
The young actress said she worked hard in order to be more than just her family name—a name that was already made popular by the generation before her through the Barretto sisters, which included her mother Marjorie and aunts Gretchen and Claudine.
“I wanted my hard work to get the credit and not my last name. I wanted to make a name for myself,” said Barretto.
“We made a movie to add positivity to people’s lives and make them feel that they’re not alone. We are not going to allow any kind of negativity to lurk around our film,” said Barretto.
Some netizens, though, believed that ABS-CBN failed to support the film made by sister-company Star Cinema because of the presence of Kris Aquino, who has had a contentious relationship with her former home network.
But Barretto denied the claim: “The network won’t put out money and produce a film they won’t support. I don’t see the logic. They have been so supportive and generous to our film.”
A netizen then quipped: “Is it because of Kris? ...Did she ruin the movie? Did she spread negativity?”
“No, she did not ruin the movie,” said Barretto. “And no, she is not spreading negativity. I can’t imagine anyone else playing the role of Madam Sasha.”
Then Aquino interjected in the comments section: “That’s why, Jules, I took the stand—that if the outcome did not live up to our hopes, I stood firm and said—this is on me...”
According to the Philippine Entertainment Portal, Aquino was not even allowed to guest on an ABS-CBN show to promote the film—even in her good friend Boy Abunda’s show.
“I have repeated many times—nobody who was part of ‘I Love You, Hater’ should be punished for working with me,” Aquino also said.
“It also pains me to watch you blame yourself, Tita,” said Barretto. “You are loved by many and I don’t want you to feel otherwise.”
“You just made me cry,” Aquino replied.
The film also stars Barretto’s love-team partner Joshua Garcia.
The film has already earned P40 million in less than a week of showing. The numbers aren’t that bad. Perhaps Star Cinema was hoping for more in the hands of one of today’s hottest young love teams.