An old urban legend involving Gretchen Barretto has resurfaced online—prompting her sister, Claudine Barretto, to issue a fiery response debunking the decades-long rumor once and for all.
The controversy, popularly known as the “RCBC Elevator Scandal,” alleges that around 20 years ago, Gretchen supposedly ordered an “old lady” to step out of an elevator because she wanted it exclusively to herself. The twist, as the myth claims, was that the woman turned out to be the building owner—leading to Gretchen allegedly being banned from all related establishments.
On Saturday, December 6, Claudine reacted sharply after sharing an article from Bilyonaryo where influential businesswoman Vivian Yuchengco, a Philippine Stock Exchange director, personally dismissed the rumor.
“Sisiraan nyo Ate ko. Ngayon alam nyo na FAKE NEWS! TAGAL NA NA CLEAR NI MADAM YAN! NAKINIG BA KAYO!!! ANG INGGIT NAKAKA MATAY!!!” Claudine wrote on Facebook.
She added a message to both detractors and long-time defenders of Gretchen: “Mapatawad sana kayong lahat na nagkalat nyan! At sa mga nagtanggol sa Ate ko mula noon hanggang ngayon, may God bless each & everyone of u.”
In the article Claudine reposted, Yuchengco categorically debunked the rumor that it was she whom Gretchen allegedly mistreated two decades ago.
“The urban legend with Gretchen is fake news! And to the person who wrote it and used my face on it more than 20 years ago, I am not an old lady!!!” Yuchengco told Bilyonaryo.
This marks one of the rare times Yuchengco personally addressed the fabricated story, which has circulated for years without credible evidence.
Gretchen herself previously refuted the scandal. In 2015, she responded to an Instagram follower who asked about the alleged elevator incident, saying outright that the story was not true.
Despite repeated clarifications, the sensational tale continues to reappear online—prompting Claudine to call out those keeping the rumor alive.
With both Claudine and Yuchengco issuing strong statements, netizens are again reminded that the decades-old “RCBC elevator scandal” was nothing more than a fabricated urban legend.
For now, the Barreto sisters are hoping that the recent clarifications will finally put an end to a rumor that has refused to die.
