What Xander Ford Learned from Losing Fame
Xander Ford — The internet personality expressed deep regret for not valuing the fame and opportunities he once had.
Xander Ford, whose real name is Marlou Salcedo Arizala, is a social media personality and actor born on May 11, 1998, in General Trias, Cavite. He first became known as a member of Hasht5, a group that gained attention in 2015 for their humorous and viral online videos. After leaving the group, Marlou underwent plastic surgery to enhance his appearance and changed his name to Xander Ford, which quickly made headlines and attracted significant online attention. His transformation was revealed on national television through the show Rated K in 2017, and he later appeared in the sitcom Home Sweetie Home. In 2020, he openly shared on Instagram that he is bisexual.
However, Xander Ford has also faced several controversies. In 2017, a video circulated online in which someone who sounded like him mocked actress Kathryn Bernardo. Although his talent agency denied it was him, Xander later admitted to it and apologized, saying it reflected his past behavior. That same year, he filed a cyberbullying complaint with the police and briefly went missing—only to later explain that he was simply taking a break from the spotlight. In 2019, his agency suspended him and revoked the use of the name “Xander Ford” due to unprofessional conduct. He briefly reunited with Hasht5 during that period.
Xander Ford recently expressed deep regret for not valuing the fame and opportunities he once had. In an interview with Morly Alinio, he admitted to turning down multiple offers from major TV networks such as TV5, GMA, and ABS-CBN during the height of his popularity. Reflecting on the past, Xander acknowledged that his arrogance and poor attitude played a major role in the decline of his career. He shared that his fame faded quickly because of the decisions he made. Xander rose to brief stardom after undergoing plastic surgery, which attracted massive attention online and in the media.
However, instead of building a stable career from that exposure, he admits to wasting the opportunities given to him. Now, with a more humble outlook, he openly accepts his mistakes and appears to be reflecting on how things could have turned out differently if he had made better choices.