2023 may be the year of breakups, but we can't dismiss the fact that it has also been the year of celebs announcing that they're official through a *hard launch* post featuring significant others.
What does "hard launch" mean? According to Oxford Languages, it's the act of fully releasing something, like an item or service, in public. These days the term is colloquially used to refer to couples publicly announcing their real status.
Below, we're giving you all the couples who have ~hard-launched~ their relationship and made the Internet go crazy over their romance.
10 Most Talked-About Relationship Announcements This 2023:
1. IU and Lee Jongsuk
Yup, this list also includes K-celeb couples! ICYMI, two of the biggest celebrities in South Korea, singer-actress IU and K-actor Lee Jong Suk were this year's New Year's Couple. Every January 1st, Korea's largest entertainment insider, Dispatch, always reveals a new couple—and it's usually a shocking one.
For 2023, IU and Jong Suk were the chosen couple; indeed, everyone was surprised. The two have been close friends since 2013. In January this year, the two celebrities wrote heartfelt messages to their fans admitting their romance and asking for everyone's support.
READ: Lee Jong Suk On His Relationship With IU: 'She makes me want to be a better person'
READ: A Timeline Of IU And Lee Jong Suk's Relationship
2. Charlie Dizon and Carlo Aquino
Carlo Aquino proudly announced that he was in the "getting-to-know-each-other" stage with fellow Star Magic artist Charlie Dizon in January 2023. His statement made waves online as it came only a few months after his messy breakup with his former partner and mother of his daughter, Trina Candaza.
Speculations rose about their relationship when the two stars were spotted hanging out in some private dinners together with their close friends. It was only in July 2023 when Charlie *officially* confirmed their real status during a TV guesting. "Opo, boyfriend ko po," the 27-year-old actress happily shared.
People were skeptical of Carlo's intentions because he just came from a seemingly steady relationship with Trina. But Carlo and Charlie proved to be serious with each other as they blocked out all the negativities from their romance.
When asked about her reaction to people negatively commenting about their relationship, Charlie said in an October 2023 interview with MJ Felipe, "At the end of the day, masaya kami. Kaya bakit ko pa iisipin 'yung iba. I only control what I can control—so just myself."
3. Paolo Contis and Yen Santos
After their viral trip to Baguio City ~*as a friend*~ Paolo Contis and Yen Santos came out as a committed couple in January 2023. Netizens did not positively welcome their dating news even if their confirmation came almost a year after Paolo's messy split with former partner LJ Reyes.
At the time, Yen was rumored to be the third party who came between Paolo and LJ. But this was directly refuted by Paolo, who said that Yen wasn't the reason for his fallout with LJ. Moreover, Paolo expressed his thoughts on people continuously bashing him and Yen for only falling in love.
"Sa amin kasi, kumbaga, what you see is what you get na naman, di ba? Hindi na namin puwedeng ipilit yung tao to be happy for us. Hindi namin puwede ipilit yung mga tao na paniwalaan yung gusto nilang paniwalaan. Sana isipin lang nila na kung ano lang yung nakikita nila na naka-post, yun lang yung truth na alam nila," Paolo noted in an interview.
4. Aljur Abrenica and AJ Raval
From one controversial relationship to another. Now we look at Aljur Abrenica and AJ Raval's viral *hard launch* in February 2023. Their relationship comes after months of grueling speculations that AJ was the cause of Aljur's split with former wife, Kylie Padilla.
Kylie and Aljur broke up in 2021. Speculations about Aljur and AJ's romance began when both were spotted together on some occasions. However, they firmly denied it at first.
But in February 2023, AJ took the liberty to *finally* set the record straight about their relationship. He uploaded a sweet photo of him together with AJ on February 14—yup, on Valentine's Day. After which, the lovestruck couple isn't shying away from showing PDA-filled moments. They have spent a cozy vacation in Canada and even kissed at a public event since then!
5. James Reid and Issa Pressman
James Reid and Issa Pressman surely made it to this list. Their *hard-launch* post on Instagram has been one of the most talked about this year.
James and Issa first freely posted each other on their Instagram accounts during the PH leg of Harry Styles's Love On Tour. And it's not just a simple photo of them, but it was a photo of them holding hands.
Some fans couldn't help but think that Issa might be the reason why James and her former GF and love team partner Nadine Lustre broke up in 2020. Following their hard launch were netizens unearthing clips of James and Issa allegedly ~*kissing*~ while the actor was still with Nadine. This is despite Nadine clearing the misunderstanding and expressing her love for Issa and her sister Yassi Pressman.
6. Cristine Reyes and Marco Gumabao
In March 2023, Cristine Reyes and Marco Gumabao were spotted ~*holding hands*~ sparking dating rumors between the two. At first, Marco defined their relationship as a "solid good friendship" and shared that they have been "hanging out" a lot.
"We've been very, very close. We've been working out together, hanging out a lot. Yun lang naman yung gusto ko sabihin," Marco said in an interview. He gave the classic non-confirmation response to dating speculations at the time.
Not long after Marco's response to the rumors, the heartthrob proudly shared an intimate photo with Cristine with the caption that says, "You are my home and my adventure all at once." His post of course ended all questions and made them one of the hottest couples of the year already.
READ: Marco Gumabao Says He Sees *No Issue* With GF Cristine Reyes Being A Single Mom
7. Lee Do Hyun and Lim Ji Yeon
It's a noona romance IRL for Lee Do Hyun as he was confirmed to be dating fellow actress Lim Ji Yeon. The two met as co-stars in the award-winning K-drama, The Glory.
At first, fans thought it was an April Fool's joke since their dating confirmation was announced by Dispatch exactly on April 1, 2023. But of course, it was all real. Dispatch reported that Do Hyun and Ji Yeon first developed feelings for each other when the cast of The Glory went on a trip last summer.
Both their agencies also confirmed the news and asked for support for the couple!
8. Julia Montes and Coco Martin
Julia Montes and Coco Martin's dating confirmation might have been the most unexpected and expected of all. Not because they lack the chemistry and connection to be a couple, but because of how casually they dropped the truth about their 12-year relationship already!
It was a subtle confirmation that confirmed the speculations. It was when ABS-CBN reporter, MJ Felipe, was just teasing the two, also known as the love team CocoJul, about their feelings for each other. MJ asked Coco during a watch party, "Yung pagmamahal mo kay Julia?"
"Alam na niya yun!" Coco first said while laughing. Later on, he *casually* mentioned that they were already dating for 12 years! "Napakasarap ng pakiramdam namin dahil 12 years na kaming magkasama, pero pareho pa rin tulad ng dati. Nilu-look forward namin kapag may project na magkasama kami and then kapag may pagkakataon, nakakalabas kami, nakikita kami ng mga tao pero name-maintain namin ang privacy sa buhay namin,” he explained.
Months after their viral confirmation, they attended the ABS-CBN Ball 2023 in the sweetest way possible: holding hands while walking on the red carpet!
READ: A Timeline Of Coco Martin and Julia Montes' Relationship
9. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
This 2023, football player, Travis Kelce, entered the scene not just for Taylor Swift's love life but for the whole world. Their dating news came months after Taylor confirmed the end of her six-year relationship with ex Joe Alwyn.
Even now that we're writing this piece, Travis and Taylor's love story has been making headline after headline. Paparazzi seemed to follow them everywhere.
Taylor is one unbothered lover with all the PDA-filled photos and videos that fans and the press have been capturing since they began dating.
READ: Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Were Spotted Together For The *First* Time
10. Ricci Rivero and Leren Mae Bautista
Ricci Rivero and Leren Mae Bautista made waves online with their *brave* relationship confirmation on Instagram. Netizens found their hard launch amusing more than shocking.
ICYMI, Ricci and Leren have been denying claims that they were dating earlier this year. Some have referred to Leren as the third party between Ricci and his ex-GF Andrea Brillantes. Ricci and Andrea broke up in May 2023.
READ: Ricci Rivero Was *Spotted* With Leren Mae Bautista Months After His Breakup With Andrea Brillantes
By October 2023, Ricci proudly shared in his IG post that he had found "the one" and it is Leren. "Hindi tayo magtatago dahil walang dapat ikahiya. Walang nang-agaw at walang inagaw. Walang bibitaw dahil masaya tayong magka hawak kamay," the basketball player wrote.
