Tony Labrusca on junked sexual harassment case against him

Dual role ang ginampanan ni Tony Labrusca sa psychological drama thriller na What He Did.

“This is one of the hardest projects, I think, I’ve done,” pagtatapat ni Tony sa mediacon nitong Agosto 27, 2024, Miyerkules ng hapon, sa Pandan Asian Cafe, Sct. Limbaga St., Quezon City.

“But this is officially like the project that I’m probably like most proud of. I think this is like my best acting piece by far.

“And just like it being so meaningful to me now, you know, like, now my relationship with Direk like…

“There’s so many behind-the-scenes that like… mean so much to an actor, director that people don’t see.”

WHAT HE DID

Itong What He Did ang unang full-length feature na idinirek ni Joan Lopez-Flores, na siya ring nagsulat ng screenplay.

Kabila ito sa pitong full-length films na magko-compete sa Sinag Maynila 2024 filmfest sa Setyembre 4-10.

Ang buod ng What You Did: “Arvin Espiritu and Ace are two young men whose lives intersect in unexpected ways as they navigate the aftermath of severe childhood trauma and the crushing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For Arvin, the pandemic not only disrupts his long-awaited fresh start but also reignites the unresolved pain from his past, threatening to unravel his fragile sense of self.

“Meanwhile, Ace, driven by a fierce determination, seeks to rise above the challenges by creating an online persona that promises fame and fortune.

“As they embark on a joint YouTube venture, the pressures of maintaining their newfound online success begin to expose the deep-seated wounds they tried to bury.

“What You Did explores the devastating effects of trauma, the relentless pursuit of validation, and the harsh reality of dreams being shattered by a global crisis.

“As their stories unfold, Arvin and Ace must confront the secrets and choices that bind them, leading to a powerful exploration of identity, redemption, and the quest for meaning in a world turned upside down.”

Nasa cast din ng What You Did sina Epy Quizon, Mercedes Cabral, Ana Abad Santos, Mary Joy Apostol, Elle Ramirez, Ping Medina, Jim Pebanco, at Rap Fernandez.

TONY LABRUSCA LEGAL BATTLE

Tahasang sinabi ni Tony na para sa dual role niya sa What He Did, wala siyang traumatic experience sa totoong buhay na isinalin niya, na naka-relate siya.

“For this specific project, hindi po,” pakli ni Tony.

May pinagdaanan siyang personal trauma?

“Of course, I was sued just like three years ago by my own best friend,” bittersweet na pagtawa ng hunk actor.

“So, yeah, that was pretty traumatic.”

Pinaratangan si Tony ng two counts of aggravated acts of lasciviousness noong Hunyo 2021.

Sa isang party noong Enero 2021, sinadya raw ni Tony na i-expose ang dibdib ng isang babae, at puwersadong hinila raw ito sa kanyang kandungan.

Noong Marso 2022, sinabi ng korte na walang probable cause laban kay Tony. Dismissed ang kaso.

Nakaramdam ba si Tony ng vindication?

Napangiti ang aktor, “Yeah, yun na nga. Yes. Ahhh… it’s just the way I live my life, I have to have complete trust in God talaga.

“I don’t know how people will realize without God…”

VICTIM OF BEING BLAMED FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Mainit na pinag-uusapan ngayon sa loob at labas ng showbiz ang sexual harassment, abuse or exploitation kaugnay kina Sandro Muhlach, Gerald Santos, at isang unnamed male talent.

Pahayag ni Tony, “OK, so I would like to… actually say that I’m a victim of being blamed for sexual harassment.

“So, I won my case. So that’s why, you know, sexual harassment is like such a real thing that I don’t think it’s appropriate in the first place for people to just talk about it so lightly.

“Just because I don’t think people realize it’s, like, a very serious thing, and you know coming from someone like me, I, like, almost had my career taken from me.

“By being blamed that I’ve been a sexual harasser when, in fact, I’m not.

“Like, you know, that’s just such a serious thing. So it ruins lives on both sides.

“So I think everybody should be very careful about how they talk about sexual harassment, how they ask questions about sexual harassment.

“And for me, I’m just saying that I’m grateful to be in a place where I’m still doing amazing projects.

“Whether or not bad things have happened to me in my past like I’m put on the test and God is still giving me the opportunity to be an actor, and be in amazing projects.

“That’s my point.”

TONY ON WINNING HIS CASE

Nagkaayos ba sila ng kaibigan niyang nagbintang sa kanya? May closure or something?

Napabuntong-hininga si Tony, “You know what, I wish her the best of luck in her life. I have no malice and no hate in my heart.

“So, yeah, I won fair and square.”

Gaano katagal ang proseso bago natapos ang kaso?

“Oh, it took a whole year actually. So everybody was… everybody wanted to believe my case when it was thrown on me,” tugon ni Tony.

“But when I won my case, no one cared anymore. Ha! Ha! Ha!”

Paano niya nalagpasan ang pagsubok na iyon? Kumusta siya noong ongoing ang case? May trauma?

“Yes, that was really traumatic. But honestly, that just brought me closer to God,” sambit ni Tony.

“Because I mean, nobody else believed in me. So I guess, it’s just me and God at the time.”