From left: Claudine Barretto, business leader Vivian Yuchengco, and Gretchen Barretto. Both Claudine and Yuchengco have rejected the long-running RCBC elevator rumor involving Gretchen, describing the decades-old tale as false. (Photos from the official Facebook pages of Claudine Barretto and Gretchen Barretto, photo of Vivian Yuchengco courtesy of the Philippine Stock Exchange – PSE)
Claudine Barretto and Vivian Yuchengco shut down long-running RCBC elevator rumor involving Gretchen Barretto
MANILA – Actress Claudine Barretto has condemned the renewed circulation of a decades-old rumor involving her sister Gretchen Barretto and banker Vivian Yuchengco. She called the story false and urged the public to stop repeating it.
The rumor, widely known online as the elevator incident, claims that a confrontation took place more than twenty years ago inside the RCBC Building in Makati. The tale has circulated in different forms for years even though no official record, sworn statement, or verified account has ever confirmed that such an incident happened.
Vivian Yuchengco has now addressed the matter directly. She has finally shut down the long-standing rumor, calling it fake news and rejecting how the story portrayed her. She said she was never the “old lady” people imagined in the circulating versions. The tale, which has been repeated for about twenty years and often framed as a confrontation sparked by Gretchen, has persisted without evidence. Yuchengco stated that the entire account was made up and contributed nothing but confusion and unnecessary speculation.
Claudine also issued a clear denial. She defended her sister and criticized the spread of a narrative that she considers unfair and harmful. She reminded the public that circulating unverified claims can damage individuals who have consistently rejected the alleged events.
Together, the statements from Claudine and Yuchengco represent the strongest effort to correct the public record. Both emphasized that the story has caused harm despite having no factual foundation. Their denials highlight that the individuals named have consistently rejected any link to the alleged incident in the RCBC Building.
The episode reflects a broader challenge in the digital age. Old and unverified stories can easily resurface online and be mistaken for fact simply because they are familiar. The absence of documentation, combined with clear denials from those involved, underscores the gap between celebrity folklore and verifiable truth.
