Actor and dancer Mark Herras has finally addressed the viral dance performance he did at a male entertainment bar, which sparked a variety of reactions from netizens.
In a recent interview on Toni Gonzaga's YouTube show Toni Talks, the 'bad boy of the dance floor' opened up about how his life has become peaceful and free of controversies, expressing his contentment and happiness with his family.
He emphasized that his focus now is on providing for his family and embracing the more peaceful side of his career—not because he’s accepted being out of the limelight, but because he is genuinely happy with whatever he’s doing.
Herras clarified that his performance at the male entertainment bar was not planned, but rather a job offer that he accepted.
"Hindi ko siya planado. Kumbaga sumayaw ako kasi trabaho. Basta ang goal ko kasi is to provide. So, mas pinili ko ‘yung tahimik na part ng career ko hindi dahil tanggap ko na wala na ako sa limelight – ‘tanggap ko na it’s fine’ – pero masaya ako na may trabaho pa akong ginagawa," said Herras.
How he landed a dance gig at a male bar
The actor shared that he had colleagues who were involved in side jobs, even going out of town for work. He was then offered the opportunity to perform at Apollo World Class Male Entertainment & KTV Bar.
He inquired about the kind of bar it was and confirmed that dancing was the only thing required. He noted that if that were the case, he had no problem with it.
"So dumating ako doon as performer talaga, as guest nila," said Herras.
"Hindi naman ako naghubad eh. Hindi naman ako sumayaw na parang macho dancer or what. I danced like hiphop kami. Hindi naman ako nagpa-table or what," he added.
Moreover, a day or two after his gig, the video of his dance performance at the bar went viral and started trending online.
Herras pointed out how harsh Filipinos can be in judging others, mentioning that it often seems as though people feel entitled to pass judgment on others.
"‘Mark Herras sumayaw sa gay bar’ tapos biglang dumikit na ‘yung ‘wala na kasing career kaya sumayaw sa gay bar'," he added.
Herras admitted he was surprised by the video going viral, but at the same time, he was glad to see that there were people defending him.
He went on to say that he's not asking for sympathy from anyone, but he's at a stage in his life where he no longer cares about what others think or say about him.
Furthermore, he advised his wife to stop reading things online, saying that such actions don’t lead to anything good.
Contentment
The actor reiterated that he hasn't neglected his career; rather, he’s simply content with where he is now. He also mentioned that it just so happened that there weren’t many offers for him to appear on television shows.
"Hindi ako namimili. Basta ako trabaho, okay ako sabi ko. So ngayon nung inofferan ako sa Apollo, why not? Trabaho ‘yon eh," Herras explained.
"Mayroon nga ako tinatanggap na mga trabaho magpe-perform ako parang sa party lang ng events place na maliit lang, still it’s work," he added.
The StarStruck Ultimate Survivor shared that his two children are his main inspiration in accepting jobs. He doesn't want a time to come when his children have to ask others for help because he has nothing to give them.
Mark Herras first gained widespread attention when he won the talent search TV program StarStruck. He became well-known for his impressive dance moves.
He is married to actress and beauty queen Nicole Donesa. The couple has a son and is expecting another baby, a joyful announcement they made earlier this year.
