Brazilian model Daiana Menezes admitted she
was just seeking attention from her husband, outgoing Cagayan de Oro Rep.
Benjamin Benaldo, when she posted cryptic messages in various social networking
sites recently. In an exclusive interview with The Buzz aired on Sunday,
Menezes stressed that she was never a victim of domestic violence as she
apologized for the ruckus her posts have created.
“In a way, I was actually seeking [his
attention]. He was so busy. Sometimes we don’t really get to see each other. I
want to make it clear. Some people think that we want attention from the
public, which is something like ‘No, no, no.’ We are just normal,” she said. “If
I made no sense at all, my apologies but I really have my emotions.”
Early last week, the 25-year-old model shared
a series of images pertaining to violence against women, including ones showing
the words "No to rape," "Real Men Don't use Violence," and
"There is no excuse for abuse."
Another photo on Menezes' Instagram page
showed an arm bleeding from cuts and wounds. The photos alarmed netizens and
even women's groups and government agencies offered to help the Brazilian
beauty. Menezes' mother also flew to Manila after seeing the posts. But in the
interview, Benaldo clarified that Menezes just wanted him to listen to her
story about "something that had happened."
“Something happened in the house and I was
busy campaigning and I would always tell her that I need sleep. And then she
would talk to me about things happening in the house. She thought I wouldn’t
believe her so that’s why she put those things,” he said.
Contrary to the public’s interpretation of
her posts, Menezes maintained she was never a battered wife. “Sa kanya, masama ang effect eh. I came from
a cover shoot, panay iyak lang ako. All the people would talk to me about
Benjo, they would side with me, they would bash him, I would defend him,” she
said. “No. We are just like a normal couple. I regret having brought him into a
situation that may allege him [of hurting me],” she added.
While he is portrayed to be the bad guy in
this story, Benaldo said he actually didn’t mind because he and Menezes know
the truth. Asked what she learned from this incident, Menezes said: “You have
to be careful of what you say because it’s up to the interpretation of
whoever’s seeing it especially because they don’t know you very well.”
Benaldo and Menezes were married in December
2012.
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