Mags Cue breaks silence on son's leaked sex video: 'It was a blessing in disguise'

Mags Cue, Miss Universe Philippines Organization Vice President for Global and National Search, has broken her silence—and she came out swinging. The pageant figure stepped forward to address the controversy surrounding her son, pageant king John Andre, who recently became the subject of a leaked sex video scandal.

At the grand opening of the Pablo streetwear clothing brand at Ayala Malls in Parañaque City on April 9, Mags offered a perspective that caught many off guard: rather than viewing the leak as a crisis, she framed it as an unexpected turning point that launched Andre into the entertainment industry.

"Sobrang okay," said Mags when asked about Andre.

Mags added, "There is no problem, actually. Thank you sa nagpalabas ng video na 'yan because sobrang daming offers niya ngayon," Mags said with confidence. "Andre has many offers left and right because he became popular. Good or bad publicity is still publicity."

What made the situation even more striking was that the Cue family was far from caught off guard. Mags disclosed that they had been aware of the video's existence since the previous year, after Andre approached her with a candid admission.

John Andre Cue (Facebook)

"We knew it all along. Last year pa, my son confessed. Sabi niya, 'Mom, I did something wrong. Biniro ko pa siya noon. Sabi ko, 'Do you have a sex video?' Sabi niya, 'How did you know? I just said to him, "I felt it."

"First time in his life that he confessed something to me. Sabi ko, "There's nothing wrong with it. Everybody does it. The bad thing about it is that they are all victims. Lahat ng mga celebrities, they are all victims," she said.

Describing herself as a “modern mom,” Mags was unequivocal in her position: her son’s private conduct was not the issue. What was unacceptable, she emphasized, was the non-consensual exposure of that intimacy — and she made clear she would stand firmly in his corner.

"Kaya, we sided with him, kasi wala namang masama sa ginawa niya. Ang hindi lang maganda ay kung saan you are doing an intimate act, and it was exposed. May hidden camera pa.

"Somebody even warned my son to meet the girl again, or they would expose the video. So with that, I think they need something. Money? It's extortion.

The official statement of John Andre Cue (Facebook)

"Then we said, "Show the video. He did nothing wrong. I'm a modern mom, and I will support my son. Kung may ginawa kang mali, I will not support you. But for me, this is a normal thing that people do. Ang abnormal lang doon is that you're doing it and someone is taking it without consent. That is punishable by law."

Looking ahead, Andre is single and channeling the momentum into a budding entertainment career. The aspiring actor has harbored ambitions of breaking into film and television for years, and with a wave of new offers coming in, the path forward seems clearer than ever. Mags summed up her message to her son simply:

"Keep going. Ang dami mong pelikulang ginagawa. Meron din siyang teleserye. But I told him not to focus on movies and TV series. Pero gusto niya talagang maging artista at kaya raw niyang pagsabayin.

"Pero kung may problem siya sa schedule, he may decline. Studies first. The whole family supports him. Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya na walang masama sa ginawa niya. But it was exposed. So I told him to be careful next time," Mags added.

Andre himself did not sidestep the controversy. On March 13, he published a statement on social media in which he acknowledged the situation directly, accepted responsibility, and expressed his intent to move forward with integrity:

"Mistakes were made years ago, and I take full responsibility for them. I understand that life comes with risks and difficult lessons. Unfortunately, personal content I believed would remain confidential, unauthorized recordings, was later exposed and circulated online and sold without my consent.

Mags Cue and son Paolo at the opening of
the PABLO active and streetwear clothing brand

"This was a serious violation of my privacy and a painful experience that no one should have to endure. It is also a matter punishable by law, and we are allowing the authorities to conduct a proper investigation.

"Despite everything, I choose to rise with dignity and strength, turning hardship into growth and challenges into resilience. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me during this difficult time. Your kindness and encouragement mean more than words can express," Andre wrote.

Andre first rose to public attention when he placed fourth runner-up at the inaugural 2022 Mister International Philippines pageant. Now, years later, he finds himself in the spotlight once again — this time, on his own terms.

Main photo credit: Mags Cue, Miss Universe Philippines Organization Vice President for Global and National Search (Facebook)