Cherry Pie initiates artist ban vs. Baron
Cherry Pie Picache's complaint, through manager Edgar Instrella, against Baron Geisler was direct and clear. She, and the rest of Instrella's roster of talents, will not work with Geisler after the "unfortunate and disturbing" incident that happened on Friday, January 14.
Instrella filed the formal complaint on Tuesday, January 18 with the Professional Artist Management Inc. (PAMI), a professional trade group of talent managers in show business.
ABS-CBN's "Showbiz News Ngayon" revealed the contents of the complaint in a report aired the same day it was filed. It read:
"As a group, my actors have officially inhibited themselves from joining any project involving Baron Geisler.
The embarrassment, undue stress and degrading, malicious experience inflicted on Cherry Pie Picache by her co-actor while taping ‘Noah' last Friday evening was indeed unfortunate and disturbing at the very least.
Enough has been said and written about the said incident as we have already initiated some efforts with the hope that the same occurrence will not happen again not only to Cherry Pie Picache but also to other actors and staff members as well in any set at any given time.
It is now our prayer that through these disciplinary actions our movie and television industry will be weeded out with such ungrateful and unprofessional artists."
Geisler was reported to have assaulted Picache by touching her breasts while shooting a scene for ABS-CBN's "Noah."
In a newspaper report quoted by SNN, "Noah" director Malu Sevilla recounted the incident.
"E, napangalawahan na, so nagalit na si Pie, nagulat ako, nag-cut ako so nagreklamo na si Pie sa amin," she said in a report published in the tabloid Bandera.
When the staff and co-stars tried to calm Baron, the actor became even more violent, SNN further reported Tuesday night.
The SNN report also revealed another incident wherein Baron kissed a female member of the show's production staff and touched her private part.
Child actors Zaijan Jaranilla and Xyriel Manabat were also traumatized with Baron's extreme on-set behavior, SNN further said.
ABS-CBN's Corporate Communications Group released on Tuesday an official statement on the incident.
"ABS-CBN Management has decided to remove Baron Geisler from the ongoing teleserye NOAH," the statement said.
In defense, Baron's manager Arnold Vegafria asked the public not to judge Baron right away. He said the actor will soon enter a rehabilitation program for alcoholism.
Baron faces two separate court cases - an act of lasciviousness case filed by actress Yasmien Kurdi in Bulacan and a sexual harassment case filed by Yayo Aguila and William Martinez's daughter, Patricia Martinez.
PAMI is currently deliberating on the complaint and would decide on specific action to take in the case.
Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN