Actress Claudine Barretto has upheld her position of reluctance to engage in a project with Angelu de Leon, expressing remorse for publicly airing her sentiments on the matter.
Barretto’s remarks made waves after she vocalized her preference to work again with Gladys Reyes and Judy Ann Santos at the 20th wedding anniversary celebration of Reyes and Christopher Roxas in January 2024, explicitly excluding de Leon.
Two months following the incident, de Leon, who had exited the event early, responded to Barretto’s comments, expressing optimism for reconciliation between the two.
During an appearance on entertainment insider Ogie Diaz’s Showbiz Update vlog last Tuesday, April 30, Barretto admitted to regretting her candor and indicated a desire to retract her statement.
“Alam mo, nagsisisi ako sa ginawa ko. Tinatry ko talaga [siyang] i-contact and isa sa mga [napag-usapan] namin ay i-produce ‘yun… naging honest lang ako na huwag siya kasi sinabihan ko siya na huwag na,” she shared.
Barretto also addressed Diaz’s interview with de Leon, recalling their amicable relationship before the pandemic, which included shared meals. However, she urged de Leon to refrain from discussing her personal life, particularly in uninvited contexts.
“Actually, sa interview, nagulat ako kasi may sinabi kayo na noong 1990s pa [‘yung di namin pagkakasundo]. No! I have pictures in my cellphone na bago mag-pandemic, kumain kami sa dampa. Ilang beses ko nang sinasabi sa kanya, please stop talking about my life. Especially when you’re not asked,” Barretto emphasized.
In a previous conversation with PEP in January 2024, Barretto revealed that her strained relationship with de Leon originated from the latter’s comments on Barretto’s dispute with her sisters.
Despite characterizing her outburst as an “etiquette” matter, Barretto expressed hope for future reconciliation.
“I mean, for etiquette pa ‘to. Sumama talaga loob ko. Alam ko in the days to come, tatawagin ko rin siya. Every time na tumatawag ako sa kanya before, hindi sila sumasagot,” she shared.
Barretto clarified that her sentiments toward de Leon stemmed from hurt rather than anger, expressing reluctance to collaborate due to past experiences.
“But in truth, I don’t think na tama na magsama kami. ‘Yun ang feeling ko ngayon. Iba kasi kapag nakausap mo na. Na-hurt talaga ako,” she said. “Pero wala akong galit. Ayoko lang. Napaso na ako. ‘Yun lang ‘yun. Noong napanood ko ‘yung interview niyo, ang laki ng pinagbago niya,” she conveyed.
As of this writing, de Leon has not responded to Barretto’s remarks.
