Controversial celebrity Gretchen Barretto confirmed she has backed out of a film project that was supposed to cast her with an actress she has just had a verbal tussle with—Dawn Zulueta.

Gretchen told the "Chika Minute" segment of GMA-7’s 24 Oras, on November 28, that her partner, businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco, no longer wants her to appear in the film, Desperadas, because of the current controversy between her and Dawn.

Desperadas, a Regal Entertainment production, would have featured Gretchen together with Dawn, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Pops Fernandez for an early 2007 release.

For now, there is no word from Regal matriarch Lily Monterverde about the status of the project. Will she shelve the project now that Gretchen is gone or will she get a replacement for Gretchen?

Gretchen said she was happy with the development because it would keep her away from the bad publicity that has been hounding her for the past week.