Barbie Imperial Sets The Record Straight On Her Role In Richard Gutierrez And Sarah Lahbati's Split

Online hate and nonstop speculation have been following Barbie Imperial ever since her relationship with Richard Gutierrez became public—and the Internet was quick to label her the "third party" in the actor's split from Sarah Lahbati. That kind of chatter can get overwhelming, but Barbie is now clearing the air once and for all.

The actress made it clear that there's zero bad blood between her and Sarah, and that she played no part in the former couple's breakup after their 11-year marriage.

According to Barbie, "Kung ano man po 'yung naging rason ng hiwalayan nilang dalawa, masasabi ko po at alam ng Diyos po na hindi po ako 'yon. Kung ano man po 'yon syempre hindi ko po istorya 'yon, respeto ko po 'yon kay Sarah at Richard, at sa dalawa po nilang anak," she explained in a guesting on Ogie Diaz's YouTube channel.

In fact, her interactions with Sarah show that mutual respect is very much alive. Barbie laughed a little as she explained, "Feeling ko kung inagaw ko talaga si Richard kay Sarah, magagalit talaga siya sakin… Pero si Sarah naman alam niya kung ano 'yung reason, so kapag nagkikita kami, nag-ssmile naman kami sa isa't isa." 

The intense online backlash over her relationship with Richard affected Barbie's mental health. She purposely stayed silent at the time to avoid stirring tension with Sarah. Apart from that, she also had to consider the kids, making sure the situation didn't affect how they saw her.

Even with all eyes on her, Barbie has done a great job handling life with a high-profile family, especially when it comes to Richard's kids, Zion and Kai. She praised how well Richard and Sarah raised the two, describing them as "sobrang mabait" and "sobrang marespeto."

Her bond with the boys, as well as with Richard's mother, Annabelle Rama, has made managing family life and public attention a lot smoother. Contrary to the "scary" image some might have of Annabelle, Barbie shared she's been incredibly kind, often sending Barbie gifts after social events.

Barbie also clarified that her relationship with Richard began only after he and Sarah had already separated. She recounted that they first connected over a business visit to the restaurant Tipsy Pig, where she's a part-owner. "Wala na sila non. Hindi ko lang po sigurado yung exact month na naghiwalay sila," she explained. At that point, it was just two people getting to know each other—hardly the scandal some assumed it was.

Through all the online drama and criticism, Barbie says she's grown a lot. "Dito ko natutunan mag-mature na kailangan pag-isipan ang mga desisyon na gagawin ko," she reflected.

That growth has helped her handle challenges with more clarity and care—not just for her own peace of mind but also for the wellbeing of the children involved.