It has been seven years since AlDub, the portmanteau of Maine Mendoza a.k.a. Yaya Dub and Alden Richards, wrapped the nation around their finger. The super couple rose to fame after their characters on Eat Bulaga‘s Kalyeserye brought too much kilig to the masses in the mid 2010s. Now, their fanbase is as delusional loyal as ever, even holding events where they sing songs and light candles for the couple. We know, we know, it looks like a cult, and we can’t wrap our heads around it either, but we’ll try.

A “Tamang Panahon” concert anniversary

All True-Blooded ADNs Happy Happy lang together , celebrating the LOVE for #MaineMendoza and #ALDENRichards and the FRIENDSHIP we gained along the way… #ALDUBatADNTP7Years

Ctto Nay Nelly Vibal on IG pic.twitter.com/po5QR58JxA

— IGKwentuhan Hub – LACali (@igkwen2hanhub) October 24, 2022

Seven years ago, on October 24, 2015, Eat Bulaga held a special event at the Philippine Arena no less for the climactic Kalyeserye episode. Pinoys from all over the country came to witness Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards finally meet in the flesh with Lola Nidora’s (Wally Bayola) blessing. It was a historic day — all 55,000 Philippine Arena seats were sold out.

Fast forward to 2022 and avid AlDub fans are apparently STILL celebrating the anniversary. Videos (apparently taken at a “Tamang Panahon” event held in the last week of October) show just how deranged dedicated AlDub fans have become over the years.

Pinoys are weirded out

The videos showed older AlDub fans singing “If We Hold on Together” while waving candles in the air. A host stepped forward shouting: “Mabuhay ang Aldub Nation! Mabuhay si Alden! Mabuhay si Maine!” To which the attendees responded with equal enthusiasm, “Mabuhay!”

Tell me that isn’t weird.

Netizens couldn’t help but call out the cultish behavior.

“Heto talaga iyong fandom na kulto levels,” said one tweet real talking the attendees. “May mga naiyak pa — parang mga tanga. Wala ng AlDub, matagal na. Kaya itigil niyo na ‘yan. ‘Nangmgato.”

But wait.. there’s more

These same fans apparently are convinced that Maine and Alden are secretly married and secretly have kids together. What? Despite years of the pair denying they have a relationship, despite even Maine herself getting engaged to Arjo Atayde, these fans choose to turn a blind eye.

Grabe pagkahibang yun sabihin na me 3 anak na si Maine at Alden. At dumating na sa point na me clone si Maine.

— Captainfel (@captainfel) November 4, 2022

this fandom thing of aldub is giving me so much chills. ewan ko. magandang study rin to about how fanaticism can effect someone’s morals/reality. this is even beyond fangirling if fans themselves disregard truth from their idol. grabe.

— ninya 💌 (@psychtwts) November 4, 2022

Maine Mendoza has already tried calling out the delusional fans

Maine’s message to all the delusional fans who still believe she and Alden are married (which they are absolutely NOT). Please watch this, listen carefully and try to understand her every word.#MaineMendoza @mainedcm

Source https://t.co/YbELjcYaNE pic.twitter.com/v8nFRbsyzo

— 🔬 (@_cynicalrealist) November 3, 2022

In an interview with Ogie Diaz, the actress was asked if she is doing anything to make her fans understand that she and Alden are just friends.

Maine said there were many who understood that they are on-screen partners and only friends IRL. But there were fans who still ferociously believe the pair have a secret relationship going on.

“I tried calling them out a couple of times already pero ayaw po talaga nilang maniwala,” said the actress. “Yung iba kasi kapit na kapit sila na mag-asawa kami ni Alden, na may anak na kami.”

Maine also revealed that she has done everything she could — even sending fans DMs — to tell them personally that there’s nothing going on between her and Alden.

“Umabot na rin po ako sa point na parang nakakapagod na mag-explain and I don’t think there’s something I can do para sa mga tao na ‘to so wala na kong magawa,” she said.

In conclusion, touch some grass

And we mean this in the politest way possible. It’s time to move on, AlDub stans. Or at least tone down your fanaticism to a socially (and mentally) acceptable degree. It’s not bad to like something so much you celebrate dates and anniversaries related to it. For example, James Reid and Nadine Lustre fans still remember the ex-couple’s anniversary every February 11 but you don’t see them convincing others JaDine are secretly married.

This isn’t just creepy behavior — it’s harmful. When people refuse to acknowledge the facts, it can have serious repercussions on their personal lives and communities. And it can also be harmful to the people they idolize. Clearly, Maine has been affected by this, as she has spoken out about it already and asked them to stop.

C’mon guys, it’s 2022. Let’s be responsible level-headed fans!

Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube, to be the first to know about the latest news and coolest trends!