Is actor Ahron Villena subtly calling out veteran director Joel Lamangan in his latest Facebook post?
This question arises following a recent interview with Direk Joel Lamangan, published on PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on Saturday, August 24, 2024, where the director commented on the prevalence of sexual abuse in the entertainment industry.
His remarks came in light of ongoing discussions about sexual harassment in showbiz, sparked by complaints filed by Sparkle artist Sandro Muhlach against GMA-7’s independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard “Dode” Cruz. Sandro has officially filed charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness against Nones and Cruz with the Department of Justice.
Additionally, a male talent-news researcher from TV5 has reportedly experienced sexual harassment, and singer Gerald Santos recently revisited allegations that he was raped by a musical director when he was just 15 years old.
In his interview with PEP Troika on Friday, August 23, Direk Joel candidly stated, “Incidents of sexual abuse in showbiz, whether involving men or women, have been common for a long time.” He added, “This has been happening for ages, but it was just not exposed back then.”
The director also mentioned that many actors often felt they had no choice but to compromise to secure projects, highlighting a darker side of the industry that has long been shrouded in secrecy.