Leren Mae Bautista opens up about the age gap with Ricci Rivero
LEREN MAE BAUTISTA – The beauty queen-turned-politician is aware that netizens are bashing the age gap between her and her boyfriend, celebrity basketball player Ricci Rivero.
The two appeared on the “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” segment where they were questioned by Boy Abunda regarding this matter. As public figures, they supposedly remain open to various opinions and criticisms. How do they manage this? “Ako not so much, Tito Boy,” replied Ricci.
Leren also handles it similarly, just laughing off those who say she and Ricci were like aunt and nephew. “Hindi din naman Tito. Natatawa lang ako minsan kasi ‘yong ‘pag sinasabi nilang tita daw po ako ni Ricci, sabi ko, ‘Ate lang. Hindi naman tita, ate lang,'” she said.
It was also mentioned in the said interview that the two are allegedly considering marriage if ever they are truly meant to be.
Meanwhile, Ricci Rivero and Leren Mae Bautista’s relationship timeline began with speculation when they were seen together at an outreach program, sparking rumors about their romantic involvement. This speculation intensified amidst discussions about Ricci’s past relationship with Andrea Brilliantes, which garnered attention online.
In a June 2023 interview on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,’ Ricci denied cheating allegations and any romantic ties with Leren. Similarly, Leren’s office released a statement addressing the rumors, emphasizing that their joint participation in the outreach program was solely for community service and not indicative of a romantic relationship.
However, in October 2023, the couple was spotted together at the UP-DLSU game, where Ricci also shared a photo featuring Leren and his family on social media. A few days later, Ricci officially confirmed their relationship through an Instagram post, referring to Leren as his queen and expressing his commitment to their love.
He vowed not to hide their relationship, asserting that they have nothing to be ashamed of and promising to live their story authentically. This public declaration marked a significant milestone in their journey together, with Ricci expressing his determination to shape their narrative on their terms.