Richard Gutierrez asserts no overlapping between Sarah Lahbati, Barbie Imperial

Sarah Lahbati, Richard Gutierrez and Barbie Imperial. Image: Instagram/@sarahlahbati; YouTube/Ogie Diaz; Instagram/@msbarbieimperial

Richard Gutierrez publicly spoke about his rumored relationship with Barbie Imperial for the first time, clarifying that he met the younger actress way after his separation with Sarah Lahbati.

“Siguro for now, nakikita naman ng mga tao, do’n muna tayo sa what you see is what you get sa amin ni Barbie,” the actor said when asked about the real score of their relationship in a vlog interview with Ogie Diaz shared on Thursday, Jan. 16.

“Ang gusto ko lang sigurong i-clarify doon sa mga tao is that si Barbie walang kinalaman sa paghihiwalay namin ni Sarah.  Hindi siya third party, hindi nag-overlap,” Gutierrez stressed. “Kasi maraming mga tao, ‘yung mga bashers, na nagsasabi na siya ‘yung dahilan.”

Gutierrez underscored that he made the clarification because Imperial has been receiving a lot of hate comments about it.

“Nung nakilala ko si Barbie, matagal na kaming nagkahiwalay ng landas ni Sarah,” he noted.

“[Bilang lalaki], kailangan ko siyang protektahan,” he added, referring to Imperial.

Gutierrez then disclosed that their friendship started because of a pub business where they are both co-owners. It can be recalled that the pair first sparked dating rumors after they were spotted together at a gastropub in Alabang.

Speaking of what he found attractive about Imperial, the actor said, “Si Barbie kasi totoong tao, mabuting tao, maalaga. Makikita mo na genuine ‘yung intentions niya, genuine ‘yung pagkatao niya.”