MANILA, Philippines — Celebrity friends and colleagues have rallied behind Alden Richards after social media personality Xian Gaza accused the actor of refusing to vacate a condominium unit and return six luxury watches allegedly belonging to a wealthy couple.
The allegations, which circulated on social media over the weekend, prompted several entertainment personalities to share personal accounts of Richards’ generosity and the assistance he has extended to friends and colleagues.
Gaza claimed that the couple had allowed Richards to use their condominium during the Covid-19 pandemic but that the actor allegedly refused to leave the property. He also alleged that Richards had not returned six expensive timepieces.
The claims have not been independently verified, and the identities of the alleged owners have not been publicly established in the reports reviewed. Richards has not issued a direct response to the accusations.
Television host Kim Atienza was among those who came to the actor’s defense, sharing an account of Richards’ financial assistance to a friend battling cancer.
“When we were raising funds for my friend @edkalaw who was dying of cancer, Alden donated 1M selflessly with no need for acknowledgement. Just putting it out there,” Atienza wrote in a post on Threads and Facebook on Monday.
Comedienne Ai-Ai delas Alas also vouched for Richards, describing him as generous and attentive to the needs of people around him.
“Napaka-harot, generous, mabait, sensitive sa mga pangangailangan ng mga kasama niya sa industriya, lalo na sa mga kaibigan niya (He is playful, generous, kind and sensitive to the needs of his colleagues in the industry, especially his friends),” Delas Alas wrote in a social media post.
She recalled an occasion when Richards visited her restaurant near ABS-CBN and suggested having the establishment renovated. She said an architect was already involved in the project the following day.
“Bago pa naman sabi ko, basta ayun kinabukasan may architect and everything na (I told him the restaurant was still new, but the following day, there was already an architect and everything),” she said.
Comedian Betong Sumaya likewise shared his experience of receiving assistance from the actor when his brother, Allan, became ill.
“Ilang beses na niya akong tinulungan pati ang pamilya ko. Tulong na 'di mo inaasahan pero nandyan siya (He has helped me and my family so many times. Help you don't expect, but he's there when you need him),” Sumaya said.
Sumaya also recalled how Richards supported his live-selling business during the pandemic by purchasing all his merchandise.
“Hinding-hindi namin makalilimutan itong kabaitan mo (We will never forget your kindness),” he said.
Talent manager and entertainment commentator Ogie Diaz also questioned the claims, particularly the allegation that Richards had refused to vacate the condominium and return the watches.
“The condo is his; he owns it. If he's really not returning the watches, why not file a lawsuit against him?” Diaz said.
Diaz also pointed to Richards’ business interests and property holdings, questioning why the actor would allegedly claim ownership of a condominium that did not belong to him.
Meanwhile, entertainment reporter Nelson Canlas shared his perspective on his friendship with Richards, saying he had witnessed the actor’s generosity over the years.
“We’ve been friends for years, and sometimes I wish people could see the person I’ve come to know beyond the spotlight,” Canlas wrote in a post.
“I’ve seen him give so much of himself, sometimes even more than he could afford to give, leaving little or even none for himself. That’s something I’ve always admired about him,” he added.
Canlas said he could not claim to know everything about the actor’s private affairs but remained confident in the character he had observed through their friendship.
“I won’t pretend to know everything, and I don’t have to. I just know that, in all the years I’ve known him, his heart has always been in the right place,” he wrote.
Richards’ longtime friend Julius Mariano also challenged Gaza’s claims, saying the actor had moved out of the condominium mentioned in the allegations and now lives in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City.
Mariano urged people to be mindful of the information they circulate online and defended the actor’s right to privacy.
“Hindi lahat ng tahimik, may tinatago. Minsan, mas pinipili lang nilang protektahan ang peace nila (Not everyone who stays silent is hiding something. Sometimes, they simply choose to protect their peace),” Mariano wrote.
He also described Richards as genuine and said he had personally witnessed the actor experience both happiness and heartbreak.
Amid the controversy, Richards spoke about kindness and personal integrity at the Hero For All 2026 event on Sunday, where 20 Filipinos were recognized for their contributions to their communities through the actor’s AR Foundation.
Although he did not mention Gaza or the allegations, Richards expressed pride in the values he strives to uphold.
“I really do believe that if there's one thing I'm proud of, sabihin n'yo nang mayabang ako, pero alam ko at the end of the day, I am a good person. No one can take that away,” he said.
Richards also encouraged the awardees to continue doing good without expecting anything in return.
“Do good without expectations of it returning to you kasi one way or another, it will find its way back to you. Be good so the world could be a little [better] at the end of the day,” he said.
