Social media personality clarifies ties with stabbed child actor after family denies relation

MANILA — Nineteen-year-old social media personality Matthew Johann—also known as Matthew Adams—has clarified his relationship with a 13-year-old child actor who is currently recovering from multiple stab wounds following an attack in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City, after a relative of the victim publicly denied any familial ties between them.

The 13-year-old victim was allegedly attacked by his 15-year-old neighbor on October 12, according to local police.

The child actor was initially admitted to a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) but is now awake and in stable condition.

Following the incident, online posts circulated where Johann identified himself as the victim’s older brother.

The claim prompted a statement from a relative of the child actor, who urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified details about the minor.

“Nais ko po sana humingi ng tulong na yung nagpapakalat po kasi ay hindi po namin kaano-ano. Nakakagulo lang din po siya sa amin… Wala po siyang pahintulot sa amin na nagpapakalat siya ng ganyang impormasyon,” the relative said, adding a request for privacy for the family.

Addressing the family’s statement, Johann, who describes himself as an artist and social media influencer, explained that while he shares no biological or legal relation to the victim, he considers the child a younger brother.

Johann stated that he met the child online through the minor’s acting work and began checking on him.

“Nakilala ko siya sa online lang din. Nakakasama ko na po siya sa mga taping. Nakilala ko lang talaga siya nang lubos-lubos sa online. Nakikita ko po yung social media post ng bata na lagi siya nade-depressed. Humingi ng tulong sa akin. Siguro, I can say po na binibisita ko po yung bata sa Bicol every two weeks. Kasi nasasabi po niya sa akin na palagi siyang malungkot. Gusto niya ng kasama doon. So hanggang sa no’ng hindi na po siya makatiis, kinuha ko po siya sa family niya. Pero ano naman din, nagpaalam naman din po ako,” he claimed.

According to Johann, the minor eventually stayed at his residence for several months with the knowledge of the child’s guardians.

“Dahil tinuring ko na rin talagang kapatid, dahil isa rin po akong social media influencer… Para hindi na rin siguro kwestyunin ng mga tao [ang] pagkakakilalanlan naming dalawa, sinabi ko po na magkapatid kami,” Johann said.

When questioned about his legal authority regarding the minor, Johann admitted that he holds no formal adoption documents.

He explained that while he initially considered legal adoption, the process was not completed because the child eventually returned to his guardians.

“To be honest, ma’am, wala po. Pero hindi ko naman po pinagdadamot yung family niya na kitain siya, kausapin siya,” he said, noting that he did not assume legal custody of the minor.

Johann clarified that his social media post regarding the stabbing was intended to help rather than cause disruption or bypass the victim’s guardians.

Johann expressed remorse over the situation and offered an apology to the victim’s family for how the information was shared online.

In a direct statement addressed to the young victim, Johann added, “Bunso, patawarin mo ako kasi wala man lang ako doon para ipagtanggol ka.”