MANILA — Nic Chien, the son of Lea Salonga and Robert Chien, revealed that he first learned about his parents’ separation through a comment on social media.

During a guest appearance on the television program Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, Chien shared his reaction to Salonga’s recent decision to publicly confirm the separation.

“I was a little surprised. But at the same time, not really, because it had been a long time coming, and it was honestly about time that she talked about it. I’m very glad she did,” he said.

Chien also recounted how he discovered the separation when he was younger, saying he came across a comment on his Instagram account that mentioned it.

“When I was 14, I had my own Instagram where I posted my art,” he said.

“Some terrible fan… some ‘lovely person’ went to the comments and in all [capital letters the fan wrote], ‘Nicole, I’m so sorry that your parents are divorced. God bless your mom. I’m so sorry.’

“What the hell? I had no idea that they were split. I don’t know where they heard this from. I was bawling my eyes out, and my boyfriend at that time and one of my best friends were [asking], ‘What’s wrong with you?’ I was basically a child.”

He said he later reached out to his father to confirm the situation.

“I texted my dad, ‘What’s going on?’ [and he said], ‘I’m very sorry you found out like that. But yes, your mom and I are separated. We want you to know that it was very hard. The conversation was long and very difficult for us. And it’s not your fault,’” Chien said.

Salonga publicly confirmed her separation from Robert Chien in January. The couple got married in Los Angeles in 2004.