Marjorie Barretto has finally spoken out, defending her children against their father, Dennis Padilla, amid the controversy surrounding their daughter Claudia Barretto’s recent wedding.
In an interview posted on Ogie Diaz’s YouTube channel on Friday, April 11, 2025, Marjorie offered her side of the story, shedding light on the long-standing emotional strain between Dennis and their children.
Marjorie shared that while she and her children sometimes have disagreements, these are quickly resolved because of the love they have for each other—something she said was far from what Dennis shares with them.
“But if they only talk to their father once a year and he ends up shouting and cursing at them over the phone… My kids are shaking, Ogie. My kids’ trigger is their father,” Marjorie said.
She added, “His voice alone, they shake. It’s not my story to tell, it’s my children to tell. Years of therapy went into that. There are so many things you don’t know that we went through with Dennis.”
Marjorie also called out Dennis for repeatedly airing his grievances in public interviews, which she said only reopens old wounds for their children.
“Do you think that every time he does interviews with you, with Julius Babao, all those appearances on national TV—we go back to zero. My children go back to the pain,” she said.
This came after Dennis Padilla aired his frustrations online over his limited role in Claudia’s wedding to longtime partner Basti Lorenzo, held on April 8. According to Dennis, he was invited only as a guest and not included in the wedding entourage. He was not the one to walk Claudia down the aisle—something he described as more painful than any other moment he’s missed in his children’s lives.
In his own interview with Ogie Diaz, Dennis revealed that he and Claudia had a phone call just hours before the ceremony. During the call, Claudia allegedly expressed doubts about going through with the wedding.
Dennis recalled telling her, “If you feel like you don’t want to push through with the wedding, that’s okay. People will understand—especially me, as your father.”
An hour later, Claudia reportedly called back to say the wedding was happening. Dennis said he quickly got dressed, picked up his mother in Caloocan, and headed straight to the church. It was only then that he realized he would not be walking his daughter down the aisle.
He admitted it was a painful moment, saying, “At least if they told me upfront that I wasn’t part of the program, I wouldn’t have had to vent. They would have had their reasons. Or maybe they shouldn’t have invited me at all, so it would’ve been my choice whether to go.”
In the same interview, Dennis emotionally declared what he called a “permanent goodbye” to his children, saying he’s given up hope for reconciliation.
“Maybe the last time that you will see me, it will be in my coffin. I can’t avoid that anymore,” he said. “I won’t ban you from coming. You’re still my children. If you want to donate biscuits, that’s okay too.”
As of writing, Claudia Barretto, Marjorie Barretto, and Basti Lorenzo have yet to release any statement in response to Dennis’s interview. LionhearTV remains open to their side.
