On Christmas Day, Denise Julia breaks silence on controversy with BJ Pascual

Metro Manila, Philippines - On Christmas Day, Filipino singer Denise Julia broke her silence after celebrity photographer BJ Pascual named her as the worst personality he has worked with.

On Instagram, Julia posted screenshots dating to July this year her negotiations with Pascual’s team for the shoot of her album. The photographer earlier claimed over a podcast that the singer’s camp asked to cancel the shoot the day before its schedule.

Julia said her team reached out to Pascual to discuss the proposed budget on July 18, but only got rough estimates on Aug. 11 - three days prior to the shoot.

The singer said they initially bid P650,000 for the photoshoot and music video - more than half of Pascual’s initial asking price of P1.2 million. Julia said they even tried to stretch the budget to P800,000, still short of the photographer’s final cost of P1 million.

“Initially it was just a photoshoot that we planned to do but BJ kinda insisted that he wanted to try doing a music video for the first time,” she said.

“We would have pulled back immediately already from the start if they had only told us that this is not doable for them,” Julia added.

The singer also countered claims that her team canceled the shoot, saying they asked to reschedule “so cancellation fees don’t incur”. Pascual’s team dropped the shoot citing “differences in production processes.”

Julia, meanwhile, said she reached out to Pascual on the day the podcast aired.

“I’ve always admired and respected you as an artist, which is why it’s so painful to know that I let you down. I only wish your frustrations had been communicated directly to me,” she wrote.

The singer shared Pascual’s response, with the two agreeing to meet after the holidays.

“I appreciate your willingness to address this and I’m open to discussing it further to work towards a solution that respects both sides,” the photographer wrote.