Nikki Gil explains her side of Melissa Ricks's recent breakdown on ASAP

Bernie Franco

<img src='' alt='011912-nikki_main.jpg' width='305' align='left' border='0' height='290'>Push.com.ph recently caught up with Nikki Gil and asked her about the incident where Melissa Ricks got emotional backstage of ASAP after she was teased by the hosts to kiss former boyfriend Jake Cuenca. Melissa and Jake celebrated their birthdays on ASAP’s January 8 episode and they performed in back-to-back production numbers. After their performances, they were in a spiel hosted by Nikki and Billy Crawford who teased them to exchange a kiss. After the incident, an upset Melissa cried backstage. Nikki quickly justified that what they said during the spiel was part of the script. She added that she even clarified with the show’s production staff if it was really okay to joke about it. “Nakasulat sa board, nasa script na ibinibigay sa lahat ng artist, nasa idiot board. So nung binriefing kami tinanong namin, ‘good ba ito? Okay ba ito? Okay ba itong isyu na ito?’ Eh ang ASAP naman lahat naman kina-clarify,” she reasoned. “Kahit naman sa akin, ‘Niks, okay lang bang asarin kayo ni Billy?’ ‘Oo, keribels!’ “So I assumed and bilang back-to-back pa ‘yung numbers nila na okay na okay na ang lahat. So ‘yun nga tuksu-tuksuhan, ‘yung mga close friends pa niya (Melissa) super support na ganyan. So I really thought na andun sa level na nakakatuwa siya na biruan na lang siya, and then ‘yun nga nakita she was emotional. So lumapit ako sabi ko, ‘Mel, just so you know it’s part of the script, I hope you understand.’ ‘Yeah, I understand.’ Sabi niya, ‘Hindi lang ako na-brief na magkasunod ‘yung prod namin.’ So parang ano lang siya, ang point lang niya sana she was informed, siguro nakaligtaan. It’s a very minor issue. “I wish na sana na-inform kami. Kasi kami rin naman ni Billy we’re just doing our job, nasa script naman kasi. We assumed na it was okay. On our part vinerify pa namin, good ba ‘to, carry ba. We’re just doing our job.” Nikki admitted that she felt bad for Melissa. “Babae din naman ako. I know how it feels to be caught unaware, ma-put on the spot ka, but I believe she handled it very well, I like the way she handled it onstage, that’s grace under pressure and I commend her for that.’Yun lang minor miscommunications (happen). Sa industriya natin ‘yun mahirap talaga paghiwalayin ang personal at business and kabago-bago man, ako I see how it really, you really have to double-check.” Meantime, Nikki also confirmed that boyfriend Billy Crawford’s plans of flying to Europe this January for his upcoming album was moved to the middle of the year. However, she added it does not change the fact that Billy will still have to be away for a time, albeit at a later time. “Sa akin ganun pa rin naman. Halos pareho naman siya na-delay lang nang konti pero aalis pa rin siya. Ganun talaga, trabaho ‘yan, okay lang. Konting time for me [with him] kasi na-delay nang konti pero timing kasi.” Nikki explained that this is because Billy has some projects in the country When prodded if she is happy or sad about Billy’s postponed departure, she answered, “Pareho. Masaya dahil syempre hindi muna siya aalis, malungkot kasi aalis pa rin siya.” Though they will be apart for a time, Nikki said confidently that she and Billy can handle manage it. “Mas established na kami magpo-four years na kami. Siguro naman kakayanin na namin ‘yon but malungkot. More than anything kinakatakutan ko malungkot dahil alam natin ‘yan kuwento ‘yan ng mga kapamilya natin na nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa na malun

Nikki Gil clarifies that the incident with Melissa Ricks on ASAP is a very minor issue.

Nikki Gil explains her side of Melissa Ricks's recent breakdown on ASAP | PUSH.COM.PH