Cianne Dominguez has come to the defense of her It's Showtime co-host Kim Chiu, who once again found herself at the center of online speculation – this time over rumors that she is pregnant.
The talk began after a TikTok user posted a video of Kim at the airport, taken at an angle that put her midsection in full view. There was no visible protrusion, but some viewers insisted her belly looked bigger than usual and took it to mean that the The Alibi actress was expecting.
In the clip, Kim was seen stepping out of her car and talking to someone.
One commenter, who said she works as a nurse, was so sure of her hunch that she offered to surrender her license if she turned out to be wrong.
"Not a mom but I'm a nurse. I can tell that's a baby bump. If I'm wrong. Isosoli ko license ko," she wrote, capping the comment with a laughing emoji.
Cianne was quick to answer back.
"Isauli mo na po, ako na nagsasabi," she replied, brushing off the pregnancy talk.
Another netizen then asked whether Cianne was even in the loop.
"Te di ka na informed ni Kim?" the user wrote. Cianne shot back: "Sabi niya sayo te? 😂"
The exchange drew flak from netizens, who called her names in the comments. Many labeled her "Feeling Ivana," a jab comparing her to actress Ivana Alawi.
One commenter went further, daring Cianne to leave the noontime show if she turns out to be wrong and dismissing her as nothing more than a "palamuti," or accessory, on the program.
Another netizen said mothers like her would know a real baby bump when they see one.
"Tapos if nag-reveal na buntis, ano? Ikaw naman aalis sa Showtime? Total palamuti ka lang naman dun. Ilan na mga anak namin, napagdaanan na namin 'yan Cianne. Sana hindi ka na lang nag-comment. Si Kim nga tikom bibig," the netizen wrote.
Asked how close she really is to Kim, Cianne again had a ready reply: "Ay nakakasama ka namin lagi?"
@lunalemsic Ganda ni Kim 😍 #kimchiu #fypシ゚ #foryou #kimpau ♬ original sound - REYNE
Others, however, sided with Kim, saying she has always had a fuller lower abdomen that only stands out because of her slim frame.
"Mapuson talaga si Kim. Tingnan mo na lang mga dati niyang vids," one wrote.
"Grabe na naman, payat ako pero mas malaki pa puson ko diyan, hindi naman ako buntis," another said.
As of writing, Kim has yet to address the speculations.