In early 2023, Liza Soberano released a YouTube video taking stock of her career. She discussed the concept of love teams, expressing discomfort with the fact that her early career was so heavily pigeonholed with one person in one genre. "Since I was 16, I had only worked side by side with one main co-star, with the same production company, rotating around the same three directors," she said. Indeed, she had acted in numerous films and hundreds of television episodes opposite Enrique Gil. It had become her entire identity. "And during all those years," she said, "I was never really asked for my input, my thoughts, my ideas."
A week later, Soberano appeared in a video alongside fellow star Bea Alonzo, and she elaborated on her thoughts. "Love teams are a phenomenon only created in the Philippines, only existing in the Philippines," she pointed out. "And to box a woman like that is so dangerous actually for their mental health and also for their growth, not just as a professional but as an individual."
Soberano's comments sparked backlash from fans, and the ensuing media firestorm made her the most talked-about person on the internet within the Philippines for weeks, according to Filipino outlet The Inquirer. The outlet dubbed the conversation a "cultural turning point," suggesting that Soberano's open dialogue about her experience might change the way fans look at stars who are paired together romantically on screen.
