After years of silence, Marjorie Barretto has finally decided to speak out amid former husband Dennis Padilla’s repeated interviews.
Speaking to Ogie Diaz in a YouTube vlog uploaded on April 11, 2025, Marjorie stated that she avoided watching Dennis’s full interview, saying the emotional toll was too much to bear.
Read: Marjorie Barretto posts “I will survive this” amid Dennis issue
Instead, she chose to address the issues point by point, relying on information relayed by her family.
“Hindi ko kaya. Sa totoo lang, parang I think there's just too many emotions the past few days na parang ayokong galitin ng sobra yung sarili ko," she admitted.
She explained that she has intentionally avoided interviews through the years, even when Dennis would air grievances against their children on social media.
"I try to really, as much as possible, not share kahit minsan alam kong I have the power already to correct things.
"I try not to [grant any requests for an] interview kasi palengkera style na yan. Pero itong latest na nangyari is just too much," Marjorie said.
The catalyst, she revealed, was the controversy surrounding the wedding of their daughter, Claudia Barretto.
Dennis publicly claimed he was unfairly sidelined from the ceremony.
His beef was that he was treated like a "visitor" instead of "father of the bride" at his own daughter's ceremony.
In his social media posts, he did not directly accuse Marjorie of having a hand in his non-inclusion in the wedding entourage.
But according to Marjorie, Dennis kept ringing Claudia's phone at 6 A.M. of April 9, and even sent Claudia an accusatory message that read: “Kaninong pakana ‘to, Claui? Ikaw ba o nanay mo?”
MARJORIE BARRETTO WANTED DENNIS PADILLA TO BE INVITED
Contrary to Dennis's accusation, Marjorie revealed that it was she who asked Claudia to invite him to the wedding.
Marjorie explained that Claudia is "pinaka-distant" to Dennis because of their estranged father-daughter relationship.
"Pero kinu-convince ko sila, siya [Claudia], that the right thing to do is to invite the father.
"Alam ng Diyos. Alam ng lahat ng mga anak ko.
"Sometimes it caused friction because they're not friends, e."
Realizing that the decision should be up to Claudia, Marjorie told her daughter: "I said, 'Claudia, pray about it. Don't listen to what I'm saying.'
"So, pinabayaan ko siya for days. And then one day, she told me, 'Sige, okay, I will invite him. I'll invite him. But, I don't want him to walk me down the aisle."
Providing context to Claudia's decision, Marjorie added, "I hope my daughter's not judged here.
"Because, ano ba ibig sabihin ng walking the bride down the aisle?
"It's a father who raised you, provided for you, nurtured you, protected you, your safe space.
"You're handing over your daughter now, after raising her, to the man who is now gonna be in charge of her.
"So, why would he hand over Claudia? She doesn't even know anything about him. He doesn't even know anything about her."
Marjorie went on to say that Claudia did not want Dennis to walk her down the aisle.
But to avoid conflict with Dennis, Marjorie offered to skip that mother-of-the-bride part in the bridal procession.
Elaborating: "Like I said, Dennis is explosive. He has a bad temper. Wala yang pakialam kung may ibang taong makakita.
"Pag gusto niyang sumabog, sasabog siya. Walang pakialam yan.
"I know him the most. I was with him for 14 years. The prime of his life. The peak of his temper.
"And then I said, 'Para walang gulo... Hindi na lang kita iwa-walk down the aisle.'
"Itong conversation namin ni Claudia, it wasn't dramatic.
"Because ang brides ngayon, kung makikita mo sa Instagram, they walk down the aisle on their own. Iba na ngayon."
Marjorie added that the only reason she was photographed at the aisle was because she was asked by the mother butler to help Claudia remove the wedding veil halfway through the procession.
She pointed out that it was part of the church protocol for a wedding ceremony.
MARJORIE BARRETTO ON HOW CLAUDIA INVITED DENNIS
Marjorie went on to clarify that Claudia did, in fact, extend an invitation to her father under two conditions: no sharing of wedding details online, and that she would walk herself down the aisle.
Marjorie stressed that Dennis had agreed to both requests during a family lunch held prior to the wedding.
"Mamatay man lahat ng anak ko, sinabi niya yun."
Marjorie was referring to the meeting between Dennis and their children Claudia, Julia, and Leon on March 18, exactly three weeks before the April 8 wedding.
"Of course, I know that. I know they were gonna have lunch.
"Kung ayaw ko si Dennis do'n, magdadabog na lang ako kasi hindi ko na puwedeng diktahan ang mga anak ko, hindi ba?
"Pero, hindi. Because I was the one who convinced her that the right thing to do is invite your father.
"I prayed so hard the days before magkikita sila na, 'Please Lord, wag siyang magsabi ng anything na babalik na naman yung mga anak ko being wounded again.'
"You know, ayoko lang masaktan ulit yung mga bata. Pinagdasal ko yun."
After Dennis met with the kids, Marjorie was told that "it went so well."
Marjorie said both Leon and Julia were happy as they described how their dynamics with Dennis have improved.
"It was a very good idea for Dennis na dinala niya yung mom niya. So, magandang neutralizer, di ba?
"Na nagdala siya, kaysa sa dramatic na unang pagkikita nila. It was so funny. It was so nice."
ON DENNIS PADILLA CAUSING A SCENE AT THE WEDDING
Still based on Marjorie's narration, she said that Dennis opted to make a scene from the start of the ceremony.
Marjorie went on to say that Dennis made matters worse when he even posted his "budol" accusation on social media when the reception was just about to happen.
Marjorie said she didn't understand how Dennis could be so self-centered when the wedding was supposed to be about the couple and not him.
In the end, Marjorie said Dennis himself hurt his kids instead of him protecting them as their father.
As the interview progressed, the celebrity mom turned her attention to the deeper issue: the estrangement between Dennis and their children.
"Ang gusto mo, magpa-interview," she said, outlining a decade-long pattern of media appearances and public appeals.
"For the past 10 years, wala nang ginawa si Dennis kundi magpa-interview nang magpa-interview. Iiyak siya, magpapaawa siya, and make it seem like he really misses the children."
While she acknowledged that Dennis likely does miss their kids, she emphasized the harm his public narratives have caused.
"Napapahiya ang mga bata. Nasasaktan sila na pinag-uusapan sila sa publiko."
Marjorie added, "Ang gusto ni Dennis, hindi relasyon sa mga anak. Ang gusto niya, atensyon."
Read: Claudia Barretto’s wedding day fashion: All the highlights
A rundown of Marjorie Barretto’s side of the story
On Claudia’s Wedding
- Dennis allegedly expected to walk Claudia down the aisle, but Claudia had firmly decided to walk alone, citing estrangement.
- Marjorie revealed she was the one who encouraged Claudia to invite Dennis to the wedding in the first place.
- Claudia agreed to invite Dennis under two conditions: no sharing of wedding details online, and that she would walk alone.
- Dennis supposedly agreed to the terms during a family lunch on March 18, 2025, attended by his kids and his mother.
- Marjorie denied orchestrating the setup to embarrass Dennis, calling his claims misleading.
Wedding Day Dynamics
- According to Marjorie, there was no dramatic exclusion. Dennis was assigned a front-row seat with the ninongs.
- She clarified that church protocol, not personal decisions, determined the wedding seating and procession.
- Dennis chose to sit at the side of the church despite being assigned to the front row.
- She recalled that Dennis arrived already giving her “maangas” looks and distanced himself.
- Dennis's mother, whom Marjorie calls "Mama Lina," was seated properly and shown respect, contrary to claims she was mistreated.
- Marjorie even helped escort Mama Lina during the photo session as a gesture of goodwill.
Clarification on Ceremony Roles
- Claudia walked herself down the aisle as previously agreed.
- Marjorie only met her partway through the aisle, in accordance with Claudia’s wishes and church protocol.
- Marjorie denied “stealing the moment,” explaining she met Claudia only briefly to lift the veil as instructed by the church staff.
- Both parents were treated equally during photo sessions after the ceremony.
- Dennis allegedly exaggerated or fabricated details about the wedding, including claims that coordinators cried with him or that Claudia was looking for him during the ceremony. Marjorie denied all of these, saying he twisted the narrative to victimize himself.
Emotional Outburst at Claudia's Wedding
- She said Dennis caused a scene during the ceremony by pacing, raising his voice, and being confrontational with wedding staff.
- Coordinators had to step in to calm him and eventually asked him to take the discussion outside the church.
Post-Wedding Harassment
- Marjorie revealed that Dennis bombarded Claudia with calls after the wedding, even at 6 A.M. the following day, accusing her of favoring her mother.
- She said this added emotional distress to what was supposed to be a joyful milestone.
Backlash from Dennis's Siblings
- Dennis’s siblings, particularly Gene and Jennifer Baldivia, posted online criticisms despite Marjorie confirming they were not involved in or invited to the wedding.
- Marjorie questioned their motives and their understanding of the actual events.
Allegations of Abuse
- For the first time publicly, Marjorie recounted "physical abuse" during their relationship.
- She described a violent incident after Julia's birth where Dennis allegedly hit her hard enough to rupture her eardrum, requiring reconstructive surgery years later.
- Her children allegedly witnessed these incidents, shaping their relationship with their father.
- Dennis was called out for his alleged absence not just emotionally and physically, but financially.
- Marjorie recounted how he never contributed to their children’s education or daily needs.
Estrangement Explained
- Marjorie firmly denied brainwashing her kids, asserting that Dennis never fought for joint custody or made consistent parenting efforts.
- She claimed she shouldered 100% of the financial responsibility since their separation.
- Her children reportedly feel unsafe around their father and are triggered even by his voice, due to past traumatic experiences.
On Dennis’ Victim Narrative
- Marjorie said Dennis has painted himself as a victim in the media for years, turning every issue into an interview opportunity.
- She stressed that her children are hurt every time Dennis speaks publicly, especially when he portrays her as manipulative or makes inaccurate claims.
- According to her, Dennis only started acting resentful once Julia became a public figure, allegedly out of envy or the need for relevance.
On Dennis' Media Behavior
- Marjorie accused Dennis of twisting narratives, like falsely claiming Julia refused to hug him due to COVID.
- She said these lies, told in interviews, severely affected her children’s mental health and public perception.
- She highlighted the long-term emotional damage Dennis’ public outbursts and verbal abuse have had on their children.
- Julia and Leon were deeply affected by their father’s behavior but remained silent publicly out of respect.
Marjorie emphasized that her priority has always been her children’s well-being.
She urged Dennis to choose peace over attention and to stop using interviews to indirectly attack their family.
(With additional text from Rachelle Siazon)
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