MANILA, Philippines – The KathNiel era has officially come to an end.
Actress Kathryn Bernardo, in an Instagram post on Thursday, November 30, confirmed the much-feared news for fans of KathNiel – the end of her romantic partnership with actor Daniel Padilla.
In her caption, the 27-year-old actress expressed, "Chapter closed," alongside an old photo featuring her and Daniel. She added, "I hope this finally helps all of us move forward. I won’t be entertaining questions regarding this anymore. Thank you for understanding."
The accompanying statement from Kathryn further elaborated on the situation: "I’ve always tried to be my own person. I was encouraged to think for myself and decide for myself. Even when it comes to love. Especially when it comes to love.... It’s true that Deej and I have decided to part ways. What Deej and I had was real. It was never for show.... These are 11 years that brought me joy, adventure, and the feeling of being home.... He was my first boyfriend.... I will always have love for him.... We’ve been drifting apart for a while now, and we ultimately had to accept that we can’t go back to where we used to be…."
Addressing KathNiel fans directly, she said, "KathNiels, we know you are hurting, and trust me, this also hurts us both more than you can imagine.... We hope you understand that this is something we really need. We hope you can join us in this healing process and not let those precious moments go to waste. Kaya natin ‘to (We can do this)."
The statement concluded with a heartfelt message to Daniel: "Deej, you gave me 11 beautiful years and the kind of love that I will forever cherish. I will always be grateful for you."
Shortly after Kathryn's post, Daniel responded on his Instagram with a photo and statement of his own: "Our lives may drift away, but our love will still ride that tide.... KathNiels, maraming salamat sa napakagandang pinagsamahan natin.... Magiging mahirap pero kailangan nating yakapin ang kinabukasan.... Bal, ang pagmamahal ko sa ‘yo ay walang hanggan at walang katapusan."
(KathNiels, thank you for our wonderful time together.... It’s going to be hard but we need to embrace the future.... Bal, my love for you is boundless.)
The journey of Kathryn and Daniel began with their collaboration in the youth-oriented series "Growing Up" in 2011 and continued with the highly successful primetime series "Princess and I" in 2012. Over the years, they became a beloved love team, starring in numerous hit projects such as the 2014 film "She’s Dating the Gangster" and the 2018 film "The Hows of Us." Their latest collaboration was the 2023 series "2 Good 2 Be True," which marked an industry first by premiering on both free television and Netflix.
In March 2023, Kathryn announced her return to the big screen with Daniel in a film directed by their long-time collaborator Cathy Garcia-Molina. In a separate interview, Daniel mentioned that the movie was slated for release in 2024