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Jefre Superman

Jude Cartalaba

<p>Despite being an alien from another planet, Superman has always wanted to belong. But for Filipino-American artist Jefrë Figueras Manuel, also known simply as Jefrë, the message of inclusion felt distant when he was denied entry to the Superman movie after-party at the TCL Chinese Theatre last July 7 in Hollywood, California.</p><p>Jefrë said he had no initial plans to attend the after-party. But Peter Safran, co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, invited him after they briefly exchanged pleasantries at the end of the premiere.</p><p>“I was thanking them for launching the debut of Superman in the Philippines at my The Victor sculpture,” Jefrë recounted, referring to the towering bronze-and-steel statue located at Bridgetowne between Pasig and Quezon City.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLNjHUTRLMr/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A7831644.900000006%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="809" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Standing next to Safran was Candice McDonough, EVP of Marketing at Warner Bros. According to Jefrë, Safran verbally told McDonough to “take care of” him at the after-party, which was located just across the street in an open parking lot.</p><p>“There was the first security checkpoint, and when the guard asked Candice if I was with them, she said ‘yes’ and continued walking toward the venue,” Jefrë said.</p><p>But once they reached the entrance, things took a turn. In a video he posted online, Jefrë described how Safran seemed to “brush [him] off” when he approached. “His demeanor totally changed, and I don’t know why.”</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL1nX7nOfWD/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A7863180.200000018%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="809" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>McDonough then reportedly instructed everyone else in the group to enter — except for Jefrë. He stood to the side, confused, as she whispered something to a man and walked away.</p><p>When he approached her again and asked if he could come in, McDonough allegedly responded, “Who are you?”</p><p>He said he came from the premiere but was told that the venue was already at capacity.</p><p>Even after showing his ticket, she questioned where he had gotten it. A security staff member allegedly took it from him and said, “Sorry, we can’t give you access.”</p><p>“To have someone invite you and then have security ask if you were with them and to have her say &#x27;yes&#x27; and wave me in to walk with them to the party, and then what happened in the end was confusion.&quot; Jefrë said. </p><p>&quot;Not sure what happened during the walk to the entrance… I didn’t even speak. We walked halfway and she stayed to wait for Peter, who kept signing autographs and taking selfies. I proceeded ahead and when they both got to the entrance I was then left behind.”</p><p>Asked how he felt, Jefrë was candid: “Confused. I wasn’t angry. I was sad that I allowed someone to dim my light and power away.”</p><p>He also said in the video that people at the party didn’t believe he was the real Jefrë, the artist behind The Victor. “It&#x27;s embarrassing! To think that I was there to support a movie that is about humanization, being encouraged, the idea of freedom and empowerment, and all things that are part of my sculpture, The Victor.&quot;</p><p>Several celebrities expressed support for the Filipino-American sculptor online. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752227553511att.7K-ssgHeGcCdL8sAhC3A7QG9WDHxzDmuija0hq7f8II.JPG" style="width:750px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752227582291att.Bx9JWjZiWCh1K_14POx1eNpsAsCX8Wictl_Hg-34aj8.JPG" style="width:750px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752227596856att.G-wE_MuPf1xRx1hRA-ydGLuKSoy051CPvicZmGaE9e4.JPG" style="width:750px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752227623405att.iZaM99lsOGjdIe0UMMV7tCZYfXYvQyY4IqZCB9HJL2w.JPG" style="width:750px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752227637879att.sEp4qrxJNHkNQw4h1SjbWEcMarZ1k7x-a7x1qMRxECE.JPG" style="width:750px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>Jefrë didn’t stay long after the incident. Within two hours, he was on a flight out of Hollywood. &quot;I felt like I needed to leave and waited to get to the airport to record and post that video.&quot;</p><p>While the Hollywood snub was a low point, Jefrë quickly returned to doing what he does best: building some of the world’s most monumental public art installations.</p><p>The Victor is just one of his many iconic pieces. His work spans major cities including London, Abu Dhabi, Rome, and Miami.</p><p>In the Philippines, his works include Tree of Life at Robinsons Place Naga and the Sculpture Series at SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City.</p><p>Currently, Jefrë is collaborating with former Ilocos Sur governor Luis &quot;Chavit&quot; Singson on what’s poised to be the world’s largest sculpture of Jesus Christ, and with Sir Richard Branson on an ambitious underwater installation.</p>

<p>Filipino-American artist Jefrë Figueras Manuel opens up about the confusing moment he was denied entry to the 'Superman' premiere after-party in Hollywood — despite being personally invited.</p>

Filipino-American artist Jefrë Figueras Manuel opens up about the confusing moment he was denied entry to the 'Superman' premiere after-party in Hollywood — despite being personally invited.

Jefrë reflects on ‘snub’ at Superman premiere after-party

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Jefrë reflects on ‘snub’ at Superman premiere after-party

Jude Cartalaba

Published July 11, 2025 06:23 PM PHT

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Updated July 11, 2025 08:18 PM PHT

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Jefre

Superman

The Victor

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