Alden Richards is a famous Filipino actor and host. People know him for his cute smile, funny jokes, and kind heart. Every time he appears on TV, fans cheer and think he’s always happy. But what people didn’t know is that Alden was quietly going through something really sad — even while he was making people smile.
During a special interview with GMA Integrated News to promote the show Stars On The Floor (a big dance competition with celebrities), Alden surprised everyone. He didn’t just talk about dancing or shows — he opened up about something very personal and painful.
Alden said that last year was the hardest year of his life. Even though everything looked great on the outside, inside, he felt very, very low — like he was at the bottom of a dark hole.
He believes part of the reason was because he always gave so much love and time to others, but forgot to take care of himself.
He said, “If there’s something worse than rock bottom, I was there.”
He talked about how his brain was full of sad and negative thoughts, and even when people who loved him tried to help, he couldn’t think clearly. It was hard for him to enjoy anything or feel okay — even when he was surrounded by fans and success.
Then something even sadder happened. His grandfather passed away in January. Alden loved his grandfather very much. Losing him made everything feel even heavier. He said it took him six months to start feeling a little better.
Even though a doctor didn’t officially say it, Alden believes he went through depression — which means feeling extremely sad for a long time, and not knowing how to be happy again.
“It didn’t show, but that was depression,” Alden admitted. “Before, I couldn’t even talk about it. I didn’t want people to see that I was weak.”
This moment was different. He wasn’t acting. He wasn’t pretending. He was just being real. And in being real, Alden showed true strength.
To help himself heal, Alden started doing things to feel better. He began running and biking. At first, fans thought he just wanted to stay fit. But the truth is, he was taking care of his heart and mind.
He runs to breathe. He bikes to feel peace. He’s not trying to impress anyone. He’s learning how to love himself again.
When asked about love or having a girlfriend, Alden was honest. He said people shouldn’t think you need to be in a relationship to be happy.
“It’s my story,” Alden said. “I’ve done so much for the industry. Now, I want to do something for myself.”
For Alden, being strong means facing sadness, talking about it, and choosing to move forward — even when it’s hard.
Hosting Stars On The Floor isn’t just a job for him. It’s a sign that he’s getting better. He’s healing. And he’s showing everyone that real courage isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being honest, even when it hurts.
