Source: Instagram/@bernardokath

The Gist:

Filipino stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla announced their breakup on Dec. 1, 2023, saying that the two of them had grown apart.
KathNiel said that they still respected one another and that despite their professional collaborations, the love that they had shared was real.

On Dec. 1, 2023, after 11 years together, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla announced that they were breaking up. Rumors had been swirling before Kathryn took to Instagram to explain that KathNiel was no more after 11 years.

Now that the news of their split has been confirmed, many are wondering why the couple broke up. While Kathryn’s statement didn’t offer much detail on exactly what happened between them, she made it clear that she was grateful for their time together and that what they shared was real.

Source: Instagram/@bernardokath

Why did KathNiel break up?

In her post, Kathryn said that despite their on-camera partnership, their relationship was real. “I want you to hear it straight from me: It’s true that Deej and I have decided to part ways,” she wrote. “What Deej and I had was real. It was never for show. We were together not because of the cameras, not because of the fans, not because of the money that comes with a successful love team. We were genuinely in love.”

Kathryn also said that Daniel was her first boyfriend, and that he became her “comfort zone.” In her post, she made their split sound almost inevitable.

“Like any other relationship, we tried our best to make it work,” she wrote. “We’ve been drifting apart for a while now, and we ultimately had to accept that we can’t go back to where we used to be. It just won’t be fair to pretend that everything is still the same.”

Kathryn said that the relationship began and ended with respect. She also said that she knew many fans would be hurt following this news, but urged them not to pick sides.

In the caption on her post, Kathryn also said that she wouldn’t be discussing the breakup anymore beyond this post. So, this may be all the information we get on their breakup.

Daniel and Kathryn were professional collaborators.

Many fans of KathNiel were deeply invested in their relationship not just because of their real-life romance, but also because their professional careers intersected frequently. Daniel and Kathryn had been on tours together and they also co-starred in films.

The news that they had broken up has taken many fans by surprise.

Fans have weighed in on social media saying that they expected Kathryn and Daniel to eventually get married, while others have discussed how their collaborations will always seem different now. It seems clear that the two of them broke up with respect for one another and are hoping their fans will respond with similar respect.

Kathryn Bernardo shares life update as a ‘single’ lady: ‘No looking back, only moving forward’

Kathryn Bernardo. Image: Instagram/@bernardokath

Kathryn Bernardo is embracing a new chapter in her life as a “single” lady, which she described as a time to “move forward” without looking back.

The actress took to her Instagram account on Friday, Dec. 15, to share glimpses of her life so far, where she spent quality time with her loved ones by enjoying a trip to the beach and enjoying tequila.

“Appreciation post for the little things that have been making me smile the past few weeks. No looking back, only moving forward,” she said in the caption.

The actress’ post came just days after her ex-boyfriend Daniel Padilla deleted parts of his breakup statement on Instagram and was replaced with the brief line “Ikaw at ako (You and me).”

Article continues after this advertisement

The ex-partners made headlines after performing their own rendition of Rembrandt’s “I’ll Be There for You” on the ABS-CBN Christmas Special concert last Dec. 13.

Bernardo and Padilla confirmed they called it quits after an 11-year relationship through separate statements on social media last Nov. 30.