Loose lips don’t sink ships in Ricci Rivero’s case; they make headlines instead. To keep you up to speed, the former UAAP basketball standout drew flak from netizens when he finally broke his silence about his infamous breakup with Andrea Brillantes, dismissing whispers that he cheated on the actress. But it seems like he had taken things a bit too far when he answered a (dare we say, really inappropriate) question from Boy Abunda about him "living in" with Blythe, revealing that there were times they slept together—and he had a blessing from the actress’ mother.
I mean, sure, it’s 2023—and we’re all for couples choosing to live in a shared space and engage in intimate gestures prior to marriage if that’s what makes them happy, ofc. But if a man does such things with his girlfriend, does it really need to be broadcasted to the public, especially in a country dominated by ~*conservative*~ folks constantly bringing women down and plaguing them with double standards? (Read: Philippines: 1. is the only country that doesn’t have divorce aside from the Vatican; 2. has an existing two-decade legal struggle with the battle for equality and anti-discrimination of the LGBTQIA+ community; 3. is composed of 86 percent of Roman Catholics who frown upon pre-marital sex, the list just goes on and on…).
It goes without saying that it’s a cruel world out there—especially for women of Andrea’s status and public visibility—so Ricci speaking about the intimate details of their relationship is entirely unnecessary and will do more harm than good, which isn’t really what he'd want if they truly ended things on good terms, or so he claims.
It’s the opposite of being a polite gentleman—not that we’re stuck in the 1950s here. Nope, we’re not looking for a man who carries bags and takes care of bills on dates. *Not* kissing and telling is just part of basic manners, a kind gesture that speaks of class and respect to an ex-lover whom you share good memories with.
There are still good gentlemen out there. They say chivalry is dead; we argue it’s not. But Ricci and every other guy who won’t keep their lips sealed, at the expense of the women who loved and trusted them, could damn use some notes.
