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Sharon still fuming, insists she's target of Hayden's tweet

Sharon Cuneta addressed the controversial issue regarding her Marie France Bodyline billboards and explained why she thinks she is really the subject of Hayden Kho's tweet.

In her interview with ABS-CBN's "The Buzz" on Sunday, February 13, Sharon explained why she had to defend herself against the negative issues surrounding her endorsement of the weight loss specialty clinic.

On January 28, Hayden Kho tweeted: "There's a billboard ad in Edsa developed by advertisers who think consumers are stupid. Guess." Immediately, people attributed the controversial statement to the Megastar's billboards along EDSA. When news about the tweet reached Sharon, it irked her so much that she believed it was a personal attack against her credibility and integrity as an actress and endorser.

"Para namang how unfair to say na parang kasi sa akin kaya masakit, kinukwestiyon mo hindi lang yung hitsura ko, yung hitsura ko okay lang eh pero yung kredibilidad integridad ko parang ang sakit naman nun. Do you even have to ask? Do I even have to justify and defend myself?," lamented Sharon.

She also added that she doesn't buy Hayden's explanation that the tweet was intended for Joel Cruz, who is his top competitor in the fragrances business.

"Yung billboard niya [Joel Cruz] na lumabas ay July 2010 pa. Bakit pitong buwan? Bakit pitong buwan pa bago ka nagreact?... So kataka-takang magte-tweet ka pag labas nung news na supposed to be yung billboard ko ibababa...," said Sharon, "Parang ang nangyayari, sinisaraan mo ba kami dahil meron kayong kumpanya rin [Belo Medical Group] or parang feeling ko why do you have to talk meron pa siyang 'that billboard guess niyo sino.' Kung si Joel yun bakit hindi mo sinabi from the beginning, July pa yun. What are you saying about 'Lord of scents' eh that's Joel's opinion. Siya ang naunang kumuha ng line na yan so that's his prerogative kung gusto niyang gamitin yun. So who is he deceiving? So parang pinapalabas niya sinong nag dedeceive? Kami? Ang masakit sa akin I have never in my wildest dreams (thought) that I would be associated even with his name, issues like this. Nananahimik po ako nagtratrabaho," she continued.

For Sharon, the timing of Hayden's tweet somehow proved that the comment was really intended for her billboards.

"It's so convenient kasi na hindi mo sabihin kung sino para ma-deny mo later pero if you look at the timeline, hindi ko naman hiningi kundi sinabi lang sa kin. Makakaisip ka rin ng ba't ganun? Ako nga yun, na billboard ko nga yun."

On February 9, Hayden also posted several tweets in response to the Megastar's outrage after hearing about his earlier tweet. "That was quite a wounding tirade from someone i respect. Ironic, really. Very ironic," was Hayden's tweet.

Sharon in turn questioned Hayden's claim about 'respect'. At the height of the sex scandal controversy, an earlier issue dragging her daughter's name, KC, had erupted. Now, the Megastar is all the more irritated that her name is being associated with him.

"Nagulat ako in the first place kasi actually noon kasi nung lumabas yung mga kontrobersya tungkol sa kanya parang feeling ko walang lalaking gagawa ng ganyan, walang lalaking tratratuhin ang mga babaeng ganyan. I'm sorry opinyon ko lang naman to. At lalong sumama ang loob ko at nagalit dahil pati pangalan ng anak ko ay nadadawit. Once lang nakita ni KC ang taong yan dito pa sa ‘The Buzz' tapos ang sinasabi yata nung tweets niya he respects me so much na it's so ironic? I don't understand what's ironic? Ironic na he respects me and I have to treat him like this? I'm not one to treat people in a bad way, I know how to protect myself. There are times na dapat tahimik ka lang pero there are times na you have to fight for yourself kasi nobody will do it for you. Parang nagsawa na ako ng 30 years kaka no comment...If he respects me so much, bakit nadamay and pangalan ng anak ko noon? I think at that time, lagi niya tinetext yung anak ko. Nakakainis na ma-associate sa ganung issue ang isang bata na alam mo namang pinalaki mo ng ubod ng disente... Hindi basta-basta kung saan galing ang anak ko."

Sharon also gave her last statement on the issue, stressing that she only had to defend the name that she had worked hard for all these years.

"Common sense na lang. I'm sorry they feel that way. Naglabas lang naman ako ng palaisipan ko. Tao lang din naman ako, when I get hurt kailangan kong lumaban, lalo't nanay din ako, endorser ako. Hindi ako papayag na ang isang tao kahit pa sino yan, hindi ako papayag na sirain at sirain ang pangalan ko ng ganun.

Sharon on her billboards: They are not edited

Sharon clarified that her billboards are not in any way edited to make her look thinner.

Siyempre namimili kami dahil meron namang nakikita pa ng konting bilbil ko, siyempre namimili kami kung ano yung magandang iprepresent pero walang dinaya dun. Bakit? The series of billboards na lalabas over the next several months, yung progress ng weight loss ko at ng kahit sinong model ng Marie France noon, sinusundan nila. Yung unang 20 pounds after that kukuha ulit ng litrato for the next 20 pounds hanggang maging yung may picture ng ideal weight para mapakita na it's working and it's gradual so hindi pwedeeng agad-agad sirain. Feeling ko ano yun, was it my angle? Was it my pose? Pero I can assure you as God is my witness those pictures were not altered to make me look thinner than I was at that time... You come out with a billboard like that and then you see (on TV) parang iba yung hitsura; parang ang laki-laki ko naman sa Star Power tapos sa billboard sobra namang liit ko. Sino po bang magmumukhang tanga dun di ba ako at saka Marie France?" explained Sharon.

"Parang sa dami ng ginawa ko medyo meron na akong arte sa pagpili ng eendorsohin di ba? I've always said that I'm in a position na pwedeng hindi ko patulan lahat ng offers ko. Ang pinapatulan ko yung hindi ako mapapahiya sa consumers lalo sa fans ko at supporters ko. When I endorse a certain service or product I have to believe in it. Ilan pong million na ang tinurn down ko sa endorsements dahil kaya ko at ayaw kong mag endorse ng produktong ayaw ko. Hindi ako nambobola," she added.

Marie France had also released its official statement following the controversies surrounding the company's latest campaign.

"With numerous tirades our endorser has been subjected to the past week, the Marie France group would like to express our unwavering support to Ms. Sharon Cuneta. Her decision to make her weight struggle known is no mean feat. The billboard photos were a testament to the weight loss she has accomplished in the past few months. They are not in any way altered to make it seem like she lost more weight than she actually has. Even our photographer Mr. Raymund Isaac can vouch for the authenticity of the photos that were released. While it is true that everyone is entitled to his own opinion, it is a totally different ball game when the malicious remarks made were meant to disparage the reputation of a person or a company for vested interests. The Marie France company has always taken pride in adhering to the truth of our testimonial success stories and will never resort to gimmicks or mudslinging just to advance our interest or ride on somebody else's coattails or popularity."

Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN