Veteran host Joey De Leon broke his silence earlier today, April 19, to explain why he and former senator Tito Sotto were mad in one episode of Eat Bulaga. This came after rumors that the noontime variety program was shutting down soon surfaced on social media this week. 

Joey took to his personal social media accounts to recall what happened and who they were pertaining to when he dared others to reach at least 15 years. 

READ: ‘It’s Showtime’ to start airing on GMA on April 6

According to him, he was frustrated by the amount of fake news circulating on social media. He shared that both he and Tito were directing their anger at  netizens who spread fake news. 

“Ito’y para lang matapos yung usap usapan. Unang una, hindi namin kaaway ang [It’s] Showtime. Yung Showtime, matagal na naming kapitbahay yun. Hindi rin kami tinitira, hindi rin namin sila tinitira,” he shared

“Ang pinagtutungkulan namin ni Tito nung nagalit kami sa Eat Bulaga ay yung mga social media [users] na nag popost. Kaya hinamon ko, 15 years kung tatagal yung mga nag popost na yun. Hindi [ang It’s] Showtime,” he added. 

The Eat Bulaga host continued his statement by congratulating the cast and crew of It’s Showtime as they are set to celebrate their 15th anniversary this year. 

Joey maintained that everyone on Eat Bulaga has no bad blood with It’s Showtime and added that they should be sticking up for one another as they are the only two noontime variety programs left. 

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“Happy anniversary, It’s Showtime. 15 years na nga yung [It’s] Showtime bakit ko hahamunin yun? Mahal namin ang [It’s] Showtime dahil kasabayan namin— dadalawa na nga lang kami. Wag niyo kaming pagsabungin. Magkakaibigan po kami,” he stressed. 

“Pero yung [It’s] Showtime, we love you. Hindi kami magkaaway at nagtratrabaho lang kami… Yun lang yun. We love each other. Mahigit isang dekada na kaming mag kapitbahay,” he ended.

Recently, It’s Showtime made its debut in the main channel of the Kapuso network which had been the home of Eat Bulaga for several years. This historic partnership between ABS-CBN and GMA marked a new era for public television. 

Meanwhile, Eat Bulaga continues to air on TV5 after moving networks due to several issues with the former producers of the show.