Chito Francisco Issues Public Apology to Alex Calleja
CHITO FRANCISCO – The writer has publicly apologized to fellow comedy writer and comedian Alex Calleja after accusing him of stealing the carwash joke.
In his statement, Francisco admitted his mistake, acknowledging that Calleja had presented evidence proving he had written the joke years earlier. Francisco expressed deep regret for his actions, recognizing that his accusations caused undue harm to Calleja’s reputation.
Francisco admitted that his comments led to widespread backlash against Calleja, affecting both his personal and professional life. He described Calleja as a kind person and regretted putting him in a negative light. The issue escalated when his accusations went viral on social media, leading to public scrutiny and criticism of Calleja’s integrity as a writer. Francisco took responsibility for his careless remarks and the damage they caused.
The controversy began when Francisco publicly claimed that Calleja had stolen his joke, prompting Calleja to respond by providing proof that he had written and posted the joke as early as 2011. Calleja’s evidence included old Facebook posts, showing he had used the joke years before Francisco’s claim. The issue gained more attention when entertainment news outlet PEP picked up the story, further amplifying the debate.
In his apology, Francisco admitted that although he had already apologized to Calleja privately, he felt the need to issue a public statement to clear the air. He emphasized that his initial remarks were made in jest, as is common among writers, but he acknowledged that he crossed the line by making them public. He also called on bloggers and netizens who shared his false accusations to delete their posts to minimize the damage done to Calleja’s reputation.
Francisco recognized the potential legal consequences of his actions and expressed hope that his public apology would demonstrate his remorse. He stated that he wanted to end the issue and settle matters with Calleja once and for all. Calleja, on his part, was disappointed by the false accusations but focused on maintaining a positive outlook, emphasizing that comedy should bring joy rather than controversy.