Julia Barretto and Gerald Anderson at the ABS-CBN Ball 2025. Photo by Winkie Bernaldez, ABS-CBN News Intern/File
(UPDATE) Gerald Anderson and Julia Barretto have ended their relationship, their respective talent agencies confirmed Thursday, putting to rest weeks of speculation about the couple’s status.
Star Magic, which manages Anderson, and Viva Artists Agency, which represents Barretto, released separate statements on their official social media accounts. Both agencies noted that the breakup was a mutual decision.
Viva Artists Agency also clarified that the rumored reasons for the breakup circulating in recent weeks were "unfounded and baseless."
"We emphasize that only information coming directly from Julia or Gerald should be regarded as accurate, as they are the primary parties involved," it said.
Photo from Viva Artists Agency's Facebook page
For its part, Star Magic urged the public to respect the actors' decision and refrain from spreading false narratives.
Star Magic added that both Anderson and Barretto "are grateful to their fans and friends for the love and support."
Photo from Star Magic's Facebook page
The confirmation puts an end to recent rumors about the couple's relationship, which had been the subject of showbiz reports in the past days.
Similar speculation also came up in June, but Anderson denied in an episode of the news magazine show "Tao Po!" that he and Barretto had broken up.
Barretto and Anderson went public with their relationship in March 2021, when Anderson said in an interview that he was "happy" with Barretto. Shortly after, the actress referred to him as "my love" in an Instagram post.
But the two had been linked as early as 2019, when rumors of a romance surfaced following their pairing in the Japan-set movie "Between Maybes." At the time, however, both Anderson and Barretto were in separate relationships.
Barretto was subsequently embroiled in the breakup of Anderson and his former girlfriend, actress Bea Alonzo, but both she and Anderson denied her involvement.
Throughout their relationship, the pair were often asked about marriage and both expressed confidence that they would eventually marry each other.
Anderson, who first rose to fame as a housemate in the first season of "Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition" in 2006, currently stars in the ABS-CBN primetime series "Sins of the Father."
FROM THE ARCHIVES