Veteran columnist Jobert Sucaldito didn’t mince words when he directly questioned Gretchen Barretto over a resurfaced video from 2018 that once again drew flak online.
In a recent episode of his YouTube vlog OOTD (Oras ng Opinyon, Talakayan at Diskusyon) with Direk Chaps Manansala, the two reacted to a now-infamous clip showing Gretchen and her friends laughing while reading a letter from a netizen asking for help to buy Ensure milk for her ailing mother-in-law.
“GRETA, gusto ko lang magtanong. Hindi ito ginagawa ng isang normal na tao sa kanyang normal na sitwasyon. Kayo ba’y mga bangag, kayo ba ay nakainom dito?” Jobert asked bluntly, visibly upset over the video.
He went on: “Why act this way, pare-pareho kayong tatlo and nobody stopped you… Wala man lang nagsabi, ‘Uy, ‘wag nating pagtawanan.’”
Direk Chaps echoed the sentiment, noting how painful it might be for the sender if she ever saw how her heartfelt letter was received.
In the original video, which was streamed via Instagram Live in 2018, Gretchen and her friends Mimi Que and Patty Pineda were seen reading a message from a netizen requesting milk for her 73-year-old, sick mother-in-law. The trio burst into laughter during the reading, prompting backlash online.
At the time, Patty offered an apology, saying: “Sorry. It’s so funny kasi ang haba ng explanation, but the request is Ensure for someone else.”
Gretchen herself followed up with: “I’m sorry… We’re not supposed to be doing that, but I can’t help it.”
Despite the group fulfilling the netizen’s request, many viewers criticized the seemingly dismissive and insensitive manner in which it was handled.
In the vlog, Jobert recalled how Gretchen had once been generous during the pandemic by sending food packs to entertainment press members—himself included. This, he said, made the video even harder to reconcile with the Gretchen he knew.
“I know that she’s brutally frank… pero dito ako parang sinaksak ako. What’s funny about it, Gretchen?” he said emotionally.
Direk Chaps, for his part, said Gretchen’s overall character shouldn’t be judged based on one video alone but emphasized that it wouldn’t hurt to reflect.
Jobert concluded with advice for Gretchen: “I think these people, you owe them sincere apologies. Kahit hindi mo na i-announce, siguro in your heart… humingi ka ng tawad sa Diyos.”
LionhearTV remains open should Gretchen wish to issue a statement in response to the issue.
