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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Barbie Imperial on her relationship with Richard Gutierrez: We weren't hiding

Barbie Imperial on her relationship with Richard Gutierrez: We weren't hiding

Published Jan 20, 2026 03:54 pm
Richard Gutierrez and Barbie Imperial (Image courtesy of ABS-CBN News)
Richard Gutierrez and Barbie Imperial (Image courtesy of ABS-CBN News)
The cat is out of the bag!
After two years of keeping mum about their relationship, Barbie Imperial and Richard Gutierrez have set the record straight.
Richard and Barbie publicly confirmed their relationship in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News on Monday, Jan. 19, held during a promotional event for their upcoming drama, Blood vs Duty.
According to Barbie, it was a mutual decision to keep their relationship lowkey to avoid any issues.
"Can I just say that we weren’t hiding? We just chose to have a private relationship talaga because we know na ayaw namin ng… What people don’t know they can’t ruin (Can I just say that we weren't hiding. We just chose to have a private relationship, really because we know that we don't want a... What people don't know they can't ruin)" she said.
Richard fully agrees and added that they agreed from the very start to keep their relationship out of the public eye.
"I agree. From the beginning, ganun talaga. We want to keep things private. Mas relaxed ‘yung ganun, mas gusto namin ‘yung ganun (I agree. From the beginning, it was like that. We want to keep things private. That's more relaxed, we prefer that),'' Richard said.
Despite being spotted together numerous times and attending events side by side, Richard and Barbie have remained silent about the nature of their relationship.
Reports of their relationship first surfaced in 2024 after they were spotted together at a gastropub.
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