By John Romme Alba
In an interview on Rated Korina, Marlou Arizala, once widely known as “Xander Ford,” looked back on his rollercoaster journey through fame, reflecting on both the highs of stardom and the painful lows that followed.
Arizala described his sudden rise to popularity as nothing short of phenomenal. Following his highly publicized transformation, “Xander Ford” became an online sensation who attracted media attention.
But behind the spotlight, Marlou revealed a different reality. Contrary to public perception, he said he never earned millions during his peak as Xander Ford.
“After po nun, nung sunod-sunod na po yung project ko sa Rated K, hindi man lang umabot ng milyon-milyon yung kinita ko po sa kanila. Nakwe-kwenta ko pa po bago ako matapos siguro sa kanila, 200,000 thousand (pesos) lahat po ng kinita ko, pati yung project ko, pati yung billboard and commercial something,” he admitted.
He also shared the emotional toll of instant fame: “Parang feeling ko po nilamon ako ng pagiging sikat ko. Kasi nabigla po kasi ako.”
Arizala’s popularity dwindled as quickly as it rose. “Wala akong naipon. Akala nila na after ng lahat okay na ko, pero ‘di po,” he recalled.
After fading from the public eye, he is now ready to speak his truth, offering an honest look at the realities of overnight fame, the pressures it brings and the struggles it leaves behind.
