Keempee De Leon Reconciles With His Father Joey De Leon
KEEMPEE DE LEON – The actor-comedian spoke about his emotional reconciliation with his father, Joey De Leon, after being estranged for four to five years.
Their reconciliation occurred on June 15, 2024, the day before Father’s Day, when Keempee visited Joey on the set of Eat Bulaga! at TV5. However, it took several months before Keempee finally apologized to his father. His feelings of resentment stemmed from his dismissal from the long-running noontime show in 2015. Aside from his father, Keempee also apologized to some of the Eat Bulaga! staff.
Keempee shared the details of this emotional apology during a press conference for the upcoming GMA-7 afternoon series Prinsesa ng City Jail on January 7, 2025. This marks Keempee’s return to GMA-7, with the show set to air on January 13.
Keempee revealed that he took the first step in reaching out to Joey. He admitted to carrying the burden of anger and depression for years, particularly after his removal from Eat Bulaga!, a decision for which he was never given an explanation. The incident caused Keempee to struggle with depression and even alcohol issues. He also realized the importance of humility and letting go of pride as part of his spiritual healing.
He chose to visit Joey on Father’s Day, fearing that Joey might be upset with him, but he was ready to accept any reaction. When he saw Joey, he greeted him with a warm embrace and wished him a happy Father’s Day. Joey was initially surprised, but the father and son did not discuss their past issues. Instead, they simply enjoyed their reunion.
The two later shared a tour of the Eat Bulaga! studio and Keempee felt that their bond was slowly starting to rebuild. Months later, Keempee visited Joey’s home for his wife’s birthday, where the father and son finally had a heart-to-heart conversation. Then, Keempee expressed his heartfelt apology, and they both shed tears.
Through this experience, Keempee learned the importance of family and how pride can harm relationships. Despite the challenges, the reunion helped strengthen their father-son connection.
Related Post: Keempee de Leon Speaks About Past ‘Tampo’ with Eat Bulaga