When ABS-CBN went off the air,
there was speculation on what will happen to its massive stable of talent, from
actors to singing artists to hosts and more. While a solid portion of Kapamilya
stars remained on the network even as it was forced to shop its programs to
cable channels to continue broadcasting, others did go on to find work in the
other active stations. Prominent among these “transferees” is heartthrob
singer-host Billy Crawford, who would successfully host on TV5 particularly for
“The Masked Singer Pilipinas” and their weekday noontime show “Lunch Out Loud.”
Amid questions on what spurred him to cross over, Crawford decided to speak on
it.
According to The Manila Bulletin, Billy Crawford has set the record straight
regarding the circumstances of his moving from ABS-CBN to TV5. In a recent
interview with national radio network DZRH, Crawford shut down murmurs that he
had parted on bad terms with the Kapamilya network following the latter’s
shutdown of its channel. In his statement, the singer-host noted that the
expiry of his ABS-CBN contract merely coincided with them going off the air.
And with the uncertainty of his getting something to do with the network’s diminishment,
Billy decided to sign up with TV5.
“I did not burn any bridges or
somehow,” says Crawford. “It was just that, just before the franchise of ABS-CBN
lost effectiveness, or just before they could move to renew their franchise
actually, my own (talent) contract had also expired.” He had wondered if he had
anything to return to at the time when the network shutdown was finalized, and
he felt the talent pool and production staff was left in limbo, unsure about
what the government decision about the Kapamilya network will turn out.
Billy Crawford also refuted
assertions of ABS-CBN fans that he should have stuck it out with the other
Kapamilya stars that were determined to stick it out with the network and its
limited production output. “For the people upset with me, I suppose it’s
normal,” says the 38-year-old. He noted that he has been a channel-hopper for
much of his career anyway, and his decision to go Kapatid was in consideration
for his family. “For me, if you understand what a person needs, that is what a
person should prioritize. I must feed my family.”
Crawford continues hosting “Lunch
Out Loud” on TV5. It is uncertain when “The Masked Singer Pilipinas” will start
its second season on the Kapatid network, and if he will return as the host if
so.
Image courtesy of Inquirer.net
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