Pagkagulat ang nagrehistro sa mukha ni Charlie Fleming, 17, nang itanong sa kanya ng Cabinet Files ang reaksiyon niya sa desisyon ni James Graham,19, na ipakilala ang sarili bilang transwoman.
Nakatrabaho ni Charlie si James sa ilang programa ng GMA-7 tulad ng Royal Blood at Widow’s War kaya naging malapit sila sa isa’t-isa.
Sa eksklusibong panayam ng Cabinet Files kay James noong Hulyo 19, 2026, inamin niyang ang paglantad sa publiko ay dahil napapagod na siya sa pagpapanggap.
Aniya, "I’m tired of pleasing everyone and trying so hard to to force myself in a standard they expect me to be.”
Read: James Graham says moving to the U.S. helped him come out
CHARLIE FLEMING ON JAMES GRAHAM'S COMING OUT
Ngayong Linggo ng hapon, Hulyo 26, kabilang si Charlie sa mga ipinakilala bilang artistang kabilang sa cast ng Haunted Carnival, ang official entry ng Regal Entertainment Inc. sa 52nd Metro Manila Film Festival na mag-uumpisa sa Disyembre 25, 2026.
Pagkabigla ang reaksiyon ni Charlie nang tanungin ito ng Cabinet Files tungkol sa life-changing decision ni James.
"Oh! Uhm… wow. I did not expect that question today. Uhm, I was actually really surprised coz it wasn’t very expected of him ‘coz since I’ve known the person for a really long time.
"I’ve gotten to know him and he’s gotten to know me as well,” ani Charlie.
Pero anuman daw ang pasya ni James ay masaya siya para sa kaibigan.
"But I’m really just supportive of him, whatever decision he makes, I’m really proud that he moved to the U.S. to study ‘coz he was not really active here in the Philippines.
"I’m just proud that he’s chasing his dreams in the U.S., studying, and that he’s becoming the person he wants to become.
“He’s getting more comfortable with himself and he’s getting to know himself even more.
"And I’m just so proud that he has the courage to share that even to the world.
“And you know how the world is cruel, the world is full of judgment, pero kaya niyang ilabas yung side na iyon and he wasn’t scared of it,” ang mahabang sagot ni Charlie.
Read: Fans read into Matteo’s birthday message; Is Sarah pregnant?
CHARLIE FLEMING ON JAMES GRAHAM'S COMING OUT
Nagkakausap pa ba sila ni James?
"Ah, no, we do not communicate naman po now, but we do have our circle of friends who still communicate with him from time to time.
"And we still follow naman po each other. We liked each other’s post so we’re okay naman po,” ani Charlie.
Inilahad ni James sa panayam ng Cabinet Files na madalas siyang punahin sa set dahil effeminate siya.
Ang sabi ni James: "Before, I would have directors tell me ‘Tigasan mo pa’ at “ Ang lambot mo masyado.' Dun ko na-realize na iba ako."
Sumang-ayon si Charlie.
“ Yes. I was there in some of those moments and it’s really just who he is as a person.
"Like he’s really not…I would say not very tough or masculine or super strong kasi may mga lalake talagang matigas gumalaw. You know what I mean?
"James was not like that. He was a very soft person. He really has a good heart.”
Sumagi ba sa isip mo dati ang pag-come out ni James?
"Hindi ko po siya na-sense, but it’s isn’t something to be ashamed naman po coz if he did come out noon, we would accept him in the same way as how he’s being accepted as of the moment,” ang sagot ni Charlie.