Zaijian Jaranilla Calls Out Reporter for Asking His 12-Year-Old Co-Star an Inappropriate Question

Zaijian Jaranilla was quick to shield child actor Kanye Avendaño from an inappropriate question at the press conference for their upcoming film, Guryon. Directed by Lester Dimaranan, the movie explores the bond between two orphaned brothers, and the recent incident showed that the actors are looking out for each other off-screen, too.

A member of the press asked Kanye about his acting experience prior to the film. “Ang recent ko po ngayon is ‘Ang Mutya ng Section E,’” he replied, referring to the series produced by entertainment company Viva. The reporter followed up with an uncomfortable question for the 12-year-old actor: “’Pag lumaki ka ba, mag-Vi-Vivamax ka?”

For the uninitiated, Vivamax, also known as VMX, is a streaming platform known for its risqué, adult-oriented, and erotic films. The question prompted laughter from others in the room, and Kanye immediately shook his head. Zaijian, a former child star, then took the mic to intervene. “Underage pa po si Kanye kaya ingat po sa mga ganung tanong,” he said. The reporter attempted to brush off the question as a joke, responding, “Pasensya na, joke lang 'yun.”

The reporter then circled back to his question, confirming that Guryon is Kanye’s first project outside of Viva. He also asked the actor for his age, to which he said he’s turning 13 in December. The reporter noted, “Kaya prinoproteksyonan talaga ni Zaijian.”

Kanye later posted a video of the moment on his TikTok account, expressing his gratitude to his “Kuya Zaijian.”