It all started with one photo.

A single candid moment of Maymay Entrata and Brett Jackson—laughing, talking, just being themselves—was enough to send the internet into a frenzy. But this wasn’t just about two celebrities casually hanging out. No. For some fans, this was confirmation of a pattern. For others, it was simply too much to handle.

Maymay, a woman celebrated for her grace, wit, and raw authenticity, once again found herself at the center of whispers. The question? Why is it that every time she’s seen with a “tisoy,” people assume there’s something romantic going on?

The incident took place earlier this week when Maymay was spotted exiting a cozy café in Quezon City with Brett Jackson, a Filipino-American artist and actor who’s been active in both the music and film scene. Dressed simply but elegantly, Maymay was all smiles. Brett, ever the gentleman, held the door open for her. It was a brief interaction. Nothing overly intimate. But that didn’t stop the cameras. Or the assumptions.

Within hours, Twitter exploded.

“Maymay and Brett? Bagay sila!” one user wrote.

“Another tisoy? Lapitin talaga si Maymay,” another posted with a smirking emoji.

But as the chatter grew louder, so did the unfairness of it all.

Why is a woman like Maymay, known for her strength and self-respect, always reduced to someone’s rumored love interest whenever she’s seen with a man? And more specifically, why is the “tisoy” tag always thrown in?

This wasn’t the first time.

Ever since her rise to stardom from Pinoy Big Brother, Maymay has been linked to a string of foreign-looking men—some confirmed, most purely speculation. Edward Barber, for one, was a significant part of her early journey. Their chemistry was undeniable. But even after they parted ways, the public fascination with who Maymay might date next never died.

Yet through it all, Maymay remained poised. Private. Focused.

She never clapped back. She never fed the flames. She simply continued to shine on her own.

And maybe that’s what draws people to her.

Brett Jackson, who was also previously linked to other actresses in the industry, has not spoken about the viral photo. Sources close to him say it was just a friendly meeting. A collaboration, possibly. Nothing romantic.

But the truth seems to matter little when the narrative is already built.

“Napansin ko lang ha,” said one netizen. “Bakit pag kay Maymay, ang bilis mag-assume ang mga tao na in love na agad siya? Can’t she be friends with a guy without all the chismis?”

That comment resonated.

Because maybe, just maybe, the issue here isn’t about Maymay and Brett at all—but about how society views a woman like Maymay.

She’s beautiful but approachable. Fierce but soft. Funny yet vulnerable. A rare blend that doesn’t fit into neat categories.

So when she stands beside someone like Brett Jackson, the minds of many leap—not to professionalism, not to creativity, but to romance. To attraction. To seduction.

And it says more about us than it does about her.

“Baka naman sila nag-uusap lang tungkol sa project?” one fan pointed out. “Maymay has music, Brett has music. Why jump to conclusions?”

Indeed, with Maymay’s rising music career and Brett’s own artistic pursuits, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think they were simply brainstorming, maybe even preparing for a joint venture.

But in the world of showbiz, one smile, one glance, one photo can mean headlines.

What’s striking though is how gracefully Maymay has navigated the chaos. She hasn’t addressed the rumors. She hasn’t thrown shade. Instead, she posted a simple message on her IG story the day after the viral photo emerged: “Let them talk. I’m busy building.”

It was classic Maymay—elegant defiance.

She’s never been one to explain herself. She doesn’t owe anyone anything. Her love life is hers to protect. And if she’s dating someone, she’ll say it when she’s ready. If not, then that’s her story to own.

Still, the incident has sparked a deeper conversation.

Why do we label women “lapitin” as if it’s something shameful?

Why does a woman’s proximity to a man instantly define her worth, her intentions, her identity?

Why is Maymay not allowed to sit with a man in peace?

Perhaps it’s time we stop seeing “lapitin ng tisoy” as a punchline and start seeing it for what it truly reflects—an obsession with image, with complexion, with the idea that a woman’s value is measured by who finds her attractive.

Maymay Entrata deserves better than that.

She is not a headline. She is not a rumor. She is not someone to be dissected every time she smiles at someone beside her.

She is an artist. A dreamer. A fighter. A woman who has defied expectations and built her career from grit and talent—not gossip.

As for Brett Jackson? Maybe he’s just a friend. Maybe he’s more. Maybe he’s neither.

But that’s not our story to tell.

What we do know is that Maymay continues to walk her path with grace. She is carving a space where she is known not for who she’s with—but for who she is.

And if someone like Brett sees the beauty in that, who are we to be surprised?

Because truth be told, it’s not that Maymay is “lapitin ng tisoy.”
It’s that she’s magnetic—period.

And when a woman like that enters the room, people notice.
Not because of who walks beside her—but because she shines on her own.