Jojo Mendrez Clarifies Photos with Mark Herras
JOJO MENDREZ – The businessman and singer addressed rumors after photos of him and actor Mark Herras at a casino surfaced online. Some social media posts suggested a deeper connection between them, sparking speculation.
According to Jojo, he and Mark are acquainted but not particularly close. They coincidentally met at a Starbucks in Okada, along with Jojo’s manager, David Cabawatan. Given the sensitivity surrounding Mark’s past performances at bars, they chose a discreet spot to avoid unnecessary gossip.
During their conversation, Jojo proposed a video collaboration where Mark would dance to Jojo’s revival of Somewhere in My Past, originally sung by the late Julie Vega. They decided to move to a hotel room booked by Jojo’s manager to film in a quieter setting.
Jojo emphasized that their hotel room visit was purely for filming and had no other implications. However, when passing through the hotel lobby together, people recognized Mark, fueling speculations.
After the video shoot, Jojo made sure not to be left alone with Mark to avoid any possible controversy. Instead, they headed to the casino, where Mark attracted attention from fans taking photos. Jojo eventually left before Mark won ₱60,000 in the casino.
Jojo expressed disappointment over the malicious rumors, stressing that Mark has always been kind to him. However, he stated that he is unbothered by what others think. His management, Aqueous Entertainment, released an official statement denying any wrongdoing, reinforcing that Jojo and Mark are simply friends.
Meanwhile, according to PEP.ph, Mark remains unfazed by the controversy. In interviews with Toni Gonzaga and Boy Abunda, he stated that his priority is work and providing for his family. He and his wife, Nicole Donesa, recently shared updates on their home renovation project, Casa Corky, named after their eldest son. They carefully plan every detail of their home, including safety measures for their children, as Nicole is currently expecting their second baby.
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