Miss Universe Catriona Gray cancels engagement with Filipino actor Sam Milby, 10 years her senior

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray (L) and Filipino actor Sam Milby. Photo from Milby's Instagram

"Cat and I have always been private about our relationship," he stated, as reported by The Filipino Times. "And out of respect for her, I want to keep it that way."

He also denied rumors that Filipino singer Moira dela Torre was involved in his relationship with Gray.

"Moira and I have always been like siblings," he explained. "There’s nothing that’s ever been between us except that sibling-like bond."

Milby further disclosed that he and Torre are no longer close.

"It’s an issue I’d rather not talk about, but we’re just not close anymore," he admitted to ABS-CBN.

He encouraged the public to be careful and judicious with the information they find on social media, particularly when it lacks solid proof.

Milby and Gray’s relationship was first made public in 2020, as per GMA Network. The couple announced their engagement in Feb, 2023. Last year, observers noted that Gray was not wearing her engagement ring in her social media posts, and she later removed pictures of her engagement from her accounts. This fueled rumors of a split.

Following these events, Gray’s managment agency Cornerstone Entertainment issued a statement acknowledging that the couple was "facing some challenges in their relationship."

Inquirer Entertainment noted that both Gray and Milby were present at Filipino singer TJ Monterde’s concert earlier this month. They were seated several seats apart, and a video showing Gray crying on the shoulder of her friend, Filipino actress Isabel Oli, during the concert, circulated widely online.

At 31, Gray is one of the four four Filipinos to have won the Miss Universe title. She previously won Miss World Philippines 2016 and Miss Universe Philippines 2018, and was a top five finalist at Miss World 2016.

Milby, 41, gained fame after participating in the first season of the TV reality show "Pinoy Big Brother."