MANILA — Actress Elisse Joson penned a sweet message for McCoy de Leon as she defended her partner.

Breakup rumors surrounded the couple last year but despite this, they ended up staying together.

"Don't put him in a category. Don't put him in a box. He's a person. Not any label or description u put him into. A person worthy of being known for himself as a whole. Not his past, not his mistakes, not whatever u see him as," she said in a caption.

"But for me and Felize, he is our strength. He is our family. He is what Felize has. Mccoy ko, These pictures are not enough. But I hope these moments remind u that for the people that matter.. we see u, we hear u, we appreciate u."

De Leon and Joson first met as housemates in the "Lucky 7" edition of "Pinoy Big Brother" in July 2016. 

After their months-long stay where they developed romantic feelings for each other, they exited the program to a large following that would be called "McLisse."

They later became a couple in real life. The two then became first-time parents to Felize in April 2021 — a milestone they announced seven months later in November that year.