Richard Gutierrez Faces Backlash for Dating Barbie Imperial Before Finalizing Annulment With Sarah Lahbati
Manila — Filipino actor Richard Gutierrez is once again at the center of public controversy after officially confirming his relationship with actress Barbie Imperial — while his annulment from estranged wife Sarah Lahbati has yet to be finalized.
Although Gutierrez has insisted that there was no overlap and that he and Lahbati had already separated long before he began seeing Imperial, the timing has fueled heated debate online, with many questioning the optics of starting a new romance while still legally married.
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A Relationship Confirmed — But Legal Ties Remain
On January 20, 2026, Gutierrez and Imperial officially confirmed they are in a romantic relationship after nearly two years of persistent dating rumors. The confirmation ended months of speculation, but also reignited scrutiny over Gutierrez’s unresolved marital status.
While the couple emphasized that they were simply keeping their relationship private, critics pointed out that Gutierrez’s annulment proceedings with Lahbati are still ongoing — meaning he remains legally married under Philippine law.
FULL TIMELINE: Separation, Rumors, and Annulment
Late 2023 — Quiet Separation
Multiple Philippine entertainment outlets reported that Gutierrez and Lahbati quietly separated toward the end of 2023. The couple began appearing separately at public events and noticeably stopped posting photos together on social media.
Tensions with Gutierrez’s family, particularly his mother Annabelle Rama, were widely rumored to have contributed to the breakdown of the marriage.
January 2024 — Public Signs of a Breakup
In early 2024, Lahbati removed the “Gutierrez” surname from her social media accounts and unfollowed Richard and several members of his family. The moves were widely interpreted as confirmation that the couple had split in practice, even though no legal action had yet been announced.
Around the same time, Gutierrez was first spotted in public with Barbie Imperial, sparking the earliest dating rumors.
March 2024 — Sarah Lahbati Confirms Separation
Lahbati publicly confirmed that she and Gutierrez had separated, though she declined to go into details. However, there was still no public confirmation that annulment proceedings had begun.
May 2024 — Dating Rumors Intensify
Entertainment insider Ogie Diaz claimed that Gutierrez and Imperial were “exclusively dating.” The pair were reportedly seen traveling together and attending private gatherings, further fueling speculation.
At this point, criticism began mounting, as Gutierrez was still legally married, raising questions about whether the new relationship was premature.
Late 2024 — “Open Secret” Relationship
By the second half of 2024, Gutierrez and Imperial were frequently spotted together at birthdays, dinners, and overseas trips. Their relationship was widely described as an “open secret” in showbiz circles — acknowledged informally, but not officially confirmed.
January 2025 — Annulment Confirmed to Be in Progress
In January 2025, Gutierrez publicly stated that he and Lahbati had begun the annulment process. He stressed that they had been separated long before he became involved with Imperial and firmly denied any overlap or third-party involvement.
Despite this clarification, the legal reality remained: the annulment was still pending.
2025–Early 2026 — Ongoing Proceedings
Throughout 2025, reports indicated that the annulment case was still ongoing. Gutierrez and Lahbati continued co-parenting their children, while Gutierrez and Imperial maintained their relationship largely out of the public eye.
January 20, 2026 — Relationship Goes Public
Gutierrez and Imperial officially confirmed their romance in interviews, stating that they were not hiding but simply chose to keep things private.
However, the confirmation immediately triggered renewed backlash, with many netizens pointing out that Gutierrez is still legally married, as the annulment has not yet been finalized.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Controversy
Social media reaction has been sharply divided. Supporters argue that Gutierrez has the right to move on after a long separation, emphasizing that emotional separation does not always align with slow legal processes in the Philippines.
Critics, however, argue that publicly dating and confirming a new relationship while still legally married sends the wrong message and places both Barbie Imperial and Sarah Lahbati in an uncomfortable spotlight.
