Controversy has been brewing between Carlos Yulo and EJ Obiena, Filipino athletes, for quite some time now. It all started after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite winning two gold medals in vault and floor in Paris, Carlos became the epicenter of an unfortunate storm that started at home. As the media attention grew around it, soon his Olympic wins became a matter of secondary concern. And just when the world thought things couldn’t get worse. In comes EJ Obiena and the wildfire of stories!

The world of storytelling took over, and rumors were in the air. The most popular one was that EJ Obiena had made statements about Carlos’ personal life. The reports claimed he had made statements, particularly around Yulo’s girlfriend, Chloe San Jose. The rift that spreads like wildfire amid reports turns out to be a result of unreliable sources. And not something Obiena directly.

As the reports started to circulate, EJ Obiena did not take long before stepping in and clearing the air. He took it to Facebook and wrote, “I have hoped and tried to stay silent and not fuel anymore of the misleading stories. It’s a sad state of affairs when stories are fabricated to get clicks and likes and shares.” The pole vaulter posted a picture of him and Yulo fist-bumping at the airport. Clearing the air once and for all, that behind all the smoke is actually camaraderie! But this post wasn’t just polite lines!

Obiena went to list out facts regarding Carlos Yulo for the world to know. “⁠I am friends with Caloy and have been for many years. And for decades to come,” he wrote. “I don’t compete with my friend Caloy, and I deeply respect him. He is a great champion for our country, and I applaud him. I am proud of him. I am thankful for the glory he has brought our country.” It is all solidarity. This post isn’t just damage control; it soon turns into a loud cry against clickbait culture!

The post had two more facts that were hard-hitting. Obiena set the record straight with passion. “I don’t comment on my private life, and I certainly don’t want outsiders commenting on it. That’s why it’s called ‘private life.’ It’s personal. It’s nobody else’s business I HAVE NEVER MADE A SINGLE COMMENT regarding Caloy’s private life, and I never shall. ,” he wrote. He made it clear that anything being said otherwise was nothing but “outright libel!”

Despite all the noise, his message is one that stands on the foundation of support. And his words echoed their friendship and brotherhood. “Let’s focus on cheering our athletes on,” he said, “instead of creating false drama to sell advertising space.” Obiena is right, of course, but what exactly happened with Carlos Yulo to cause all this?

So, where did Carlos Yulo’s controversy begin?

The core of the controversy lies in Carlos Yulo’s issues with his family. Particularly his mother, Angelica Yulo, who had previously been managing the gymnast’s finances. Soon after the Olympics, a TikTok video put out by Carlos said his mother had been withdrawing money from his bank accounts without fully disclosing the transactions.

Additionally, he also claimed that his mother had not informed him about payments he was owed from previous competitions. When you thought it couldn’t get more ugly when he said it was all rooted in his mom’s disapproval of his girlfriend, Chloe San Jose.

Angelica Yulo’s response came through her lawyer, who denied the allegations. She also said that she had transferred the money into her personal account to safeguard it for Carlos’ future. The family drama continued to unfold in the public eye. Until Carlos Yulo himself said that he had already forgiven her.

Despite all the forgiveness, the reports continue to circle like vultures around cadavers. So why did the Carlos Yulo and EJ Obiena stories happen? As EJ Obiena himself puts it, “If some clickbait site is making up stories to suck you into the drama, recognize it for what it is. It’s abuse. It’s not journalism.”