James, inulit na ayaw nang makatambal si Nadine

Ang daming sinagot na issue si James Reid nang makausap namin noong Biyernes na almost six years ding naging inactive ang career.

Like inamin niyang dumanas siya ng mental problem nung aktibo pa ang career niya.

Kaya nung nawala siya sa showbiz, nahanap niya ang gusto niyang landas. “Yeah, I think in that time, my whole perspective has changed. And yeah, I can’t even begin to explain it. But I’ve kind of found something where I feel like no one can touch it. I don’t think anyone can get to me anymore with all the things, the way it happened before. And yeah, I think I’m doing everything on my own terms now, which is good,” paliwanag niya sa mga pinagdaanan noon.

Pero wala raw siyang sagot kung dahil doon ay lumaki ba ang ulo niya o yumabang? “I think my Dad, he keeps me grounded. The way that he raised me. I don’t think he raised me to be like that (mayabang at lumaki ang ulo.)”

Wala naman siyang pinagsisisihan o regret sa mga nangyari dahil may mga natutunan siya at naki­lala niya ang kanyang sarili. “That was my choice! I don’t know? It was such a crazy time. I kind of…just wanted to…you know, discover myself, figure out who am I, outside of you know, acting, and outside of the love team...

“So I wanted to explore music, because music is very personal. I get to write songs, I get to make music, conceptualized music video. It’s very personal.

“So I felt I needed to do it. And I’m very happy with where I am now. Which is why, I’m comfor­table coming back to acting,” paliwanag ni James sa naging desisyon niya noon.

Sa ngayon ay hindi na siya apektado ng bashing na sa loob ng mahabang panahon ay nagpapahirap sa kanya. “No, not really. For a long time now, actually. For years, yeah, it’s just become something you know, it used to make me feel terrible. But now when I see it, I kind of just feel bad for them. That for some reason, they feel the need to sit down somewhere and hate on another people. They must be a deeply sad person. So, when I see it, I feel more bad for them than I do for myself,” sabi niya tungkol sa bashers.

Samantala, magiging aktibo ang career ni James sa 2025. Dalawang drama series ang in the bag na, may pelikula, fashion week, and his music.

“I wouldn’t know, but it would be like a full length series.”

Na ang isa ay mapapanood sa Netflix. Bukod pa ito sa another teleserye sa Dreamscape. You have two projects with Dreamscape?  “As of now, there’s for sure confirmed one, but there’s a lot of projects that we’ve talked about for this year. Sorry, for 2025, even 2026.”

At handa raw siyang makipagtrabaho sa lahat. Bagama’t ayaw niya pang sabihin kung sino ang mga makakasama niya sa comeback teleserye niya sa ABS-CBN.

At mas comfortable na raw siya sa pagbabalik sa Kapamilya. “I feel very at home with ABS-CBN, especially with Dreamscape. I did 2 teleseryes with them, Till I Met You, and On The Wings Of Love. So, they’re like family to me.

“They kind of give me options, but I can’t say who they are, because if they don’t make it to the show, that would be awkward. But definitely with the cast, I’m quite involved. Hindi lang sa leading lady, but with the whole cast.

“Of all the actors, actresses na na-pitch nila sa akin, it would be an honor to work with them. First time ko silang makaka-work,” pagbibigay ng impormasyon ni James.

Pero ang isang sure, wala na sa plano niya ang pakikipag-reunion kay Nadine Lustre. “I don’t see that... for now. When it comes to acting, I really wanted to start fresh and try different roles and everything. That hasn’t been talked about yet. So, we’ll see. But for now, I really want to explore different roles.”

Naayos na ba ‘yung legal issues, na ang tinutukoy ay ang nangyari sa kanila ng Korean business partner niya na si Jeffrey Oh sa itinayo nilang artist agency, Careless Music Management.

“I believe it’s still being resolved everyday. It’s still getting untangled and resolved everyday, together with my legal team. But yeah, that’s all I have to say.”

Paano ‘yung pagha-handle niya ng mga talent?

“Yes, we still manage a few artists. We have another; we have an up-and-coming artist, Jolianne.  What do you call it? Because we have a partnership with Sony Music Philippines. They’re the ones that released my EP. So we’ve been collaborating a lot with Sony.”

Pero nasaan na ba si Jeffrey Oh na diumano’y karelasyon ni Liza Soberano?

“He left the country, and then I haven’t heard from him. But my legal team is still trying to get in touch to resolve a lot of issues. We asked him to sign and make good on all of the contracts that he owed to me, and then two days later he left the country. But the legal team is still trying to reach out and resolve the issues. But honestly, I don’t even care. I’m just happy he’s gone,” sabi pa niya na parang hindi na nga apektado sa mga pinagdaanang problema nang magtayo siya ng talent management group pagkatapos niyang bumitiw sa Viva noon.

Pero masasabi ba niya na scam ‘yun?

“I wouldn’t say exactly a scam. It’s more complicated than that. But yeah, it’s more complicated than that.”

Walang binanggit na amount si James, pero diumano’y mahigit P100 million ang nawala sa actor.

Nanatili rin daw silang magkaibigan ni Liza.

“Yeah, you know, there’s no bad blood or anything. It’s amazing what she’s doing. You know, maybe pushing for her dreams in Hollywood.”

Siya ba, itutuloy ang pangarap na international career?

“I think I just have a different path. If I go international, it’s because I go as a Filipino. So, I would like my music here first. That goes international. I tried the other...”

Mas enjoy pa raw siya sa pagdalo sa mga fashion week sa ibang bansa. “Yes, but that’s different. I don’t see Fashion Week as a career. I see that as like fun. I get invited by some of the fashion houses, a lot by Gucci. And I go there with Issa (Pressman, his GF). And it’s honestly just a lot of fun,” pagtatapos ni James.