Dennis Padilla’s public rift with his Barretto children: A timeline

The ongoing family drama between veteran actor Dennis Padilla and his children with Marjorie Barretto – Julia, Claudia, and Leon – has captivated public attention for years. Their strained relationship, playing out across interviews and social media, has become a keenly followed narrative in celebrity circles.

The roots of the conflict stretch back over a decade, marked by public pronouncements from Dennis about attempts to connect with his children, and occasional responses from Julia and Leon. Moments of apparent reconciliation have often been overshadowed by new disputes, creating a cycle of hope and disappointment.

The complexities of their relationship were thrown into sharp relief most recently surrounding Claudia Barretto's wedding. What unfolded seemed to solidify the painful reality that the long-hoped-for resolution remained elusive.

Let's rewind to 2007, the year Dennis and Marjorie's marriage ended. Married in 1997 shortly after Julia’s birth, the couple welcomed Claudia and Leon in the following years. However, by 2007, the marriage had dissolved, with Marjorie citing ongoing arguments as the breaking point when she addressed the children about the separation.

The official annulment came in 2009, legally formalizing the end of their union.

Fast forward to July 2014, and a significant public step was taken by Julia. She filed a petition to legally change her surname from Baldivia, Dennis’s actual last name, to Barretto. The reason given was to align her legal name with her public persona and avoid confusion.

Dennis initially considered intervening legally but ultimately stated he wouldn't contest the change if it was Julia's wish, emphasizing his continued love for her regardless of her surname.

However, by March 2015, Julia announced she would retain the Baldivia surname. This came after a reconciliation with Dennis, and she extended an invitation for him to attend her upcoming debut, signaling a potential thaw in their relationship at that time.

In a candid vlog in May 2021, Julia and Dennis discussed their relationship's complexities. Dennis spoke of his past behavior contributing to their strained dynamic and acknowledged the difficulties it caused Marjorie. He also expressed the deep hurt he felt regarding Julia's surname petition, seeing it as a rejection of his lineage.

Julia, in turn, explained the surname issue as an attempt to address past hurts and admitted her emotional distance had hindered communication with him.

Just over a year later, in June 2022, the fragile peace was tested again. Leon penned an open letter to Dennis via Instagram, urging him to stop airing family matters publicly. This followed Dennis questioning why his children hadn't greeted him on Father's Day.

Leon's letter expressed the family's struggle to rebuild their relationship amidst Dennis's public comments, citing instances of hurtful communication during private attempts at reconciliation.

Dennis publicly apologized to Leon, stating he missed his children and questioned what "false narrative" he had shared publicly, maintaining he had been reaching out privately.

In September 2022, Julia offered further insight into their relationship in a televised interview. She admitted to ongoing fear and a need for "more love and protection" from Dennis, expressing a feeling that he wasn't fulfilling the role of her protector.

Dennis responded publicly, requesting his side of the story be heard and claiming inaccuracies in Julia’s account. He expressed his disappointment and questioned why Julia hadn't turned to him for support, especially as he felt he had previously defended her.

By November 2024, Dennis publicly shared his longing for connection with his children in an interview. He noted the extended periods since he had last seen or spoken with Julia, Claudia, and Leon, yet affirmed his continued public greetings on special occasions as a testament to his unwavering paternal outreach.

A flicker of hope emerged in February 2025 when Dennis shared birthday greetings he received from Julia and Leon. He expressed joy at these messages and voiced a desire for a dinner with them.

Prior to Claudia's wedding, a dinner reunion indeed took place in March 2025. Dennis shared a photo from this meeting, later removed, indicating a potentially positive step towards reconciliation.

However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically during Claudia's wedding on April 8, 2025. Dennis attended, but later voiced his profound hurt and feeling of being excluded from the wedding entourage. His social media posts expressed strong emotions, including feeling "tricked" and reduced to a mere "visitor" at his own daughter’s wedding.

In the aftermath, Dennis, in an April 10 interview, declared his relationship with Julia, Claudia, and Leon to be "finished." He conveyed his deep disappointment at not being included in the wedding program as the father of the bride and stated his decision to permanently step back, suggesting only memories would remain.

Dennis further reflected on the absence of any photos or mentions of him or his side of the family on his children's social media, solidifying his sense of estrangement and prompting his decision to sever ties, marking a somber turn in this long-standing family narrative.