MANILA, Philippines — October 12, 2026 — A seemingly ordinary shooting-range video posted by actress Barbie Imperial has become the latest subject of Philippine celebrity speculation after fans linked it to Sarah Lahbati’s viral “ganda lang” remark during a promotional interview.
Imperial shared an Instagram reel showing herself practicing at a shooting range, accompanied by the short caption “Eyes on Target.”
The actress appeared pleased after successfully hitting a target, with her instructor reportedly praising her performance.
But instead of focusing only on her shooting skills, some social media users connected the video to Lahbati’s recent interview with filmmaker Darryl Yap.
During the interview, Lahbati was asked which fictional doll frightened her more: Barbie or Annabelle.
She chose Annabelle, explaining that the horror-movie character was unpredictable, while Barbie was beautiful and familiar from her childhood.
The answer quickly generated speculation because Imperial is the girlfriend of actor Richard Gutierrez, while Annabelle Rama is his mother.
Lahbati was previously married to Gutierrez.
But despite the online buzz, neither actress has confirmed that the shooting-range video or the doll comparison was intended as a personal attack.
Barbie Imperial Posts ‘Eyes on Target’ Video
According to Bilyonaryo’s October 12 report, Imperial uploaded footage of herself practicing at a shooting range.
She captioned the post “Eyes on Target.”
Separate reporting by PhilNews said Imperial successfully hit a small target during the activity and reacted enthusiastically.
The footage drew reactions from followers praising her confidence and appearance.
However, the timing of the upload also prompted questions about whether her caption contained a hidden message.
Some netizens interpreted the video as a possible response to Lahbati’s comments.
Others viewed it as a routine social media update about an activity Imperial was enjoying.
The video itself does not establish any intention to confront or threaten another person.
What Sarah Lahbati Actually Said About Barbie and Annabelle
The controversy began during a promotional interview for the horror project VHS: Viva Horror Stories.
Director Darryl Yap asked Lahbati which of two well-known dolls frightened her more.
He referred to Barbie, the fashion doll associated with Mattel, and Annabelle, the doll featured in The Conjuring horror franchise.
Importantly, Yap clarified during the exchange that he was asking about the dolls.
Lahbati said Barbie was beautiful but not frightening because she had played with Barbie dolls as a child.
She summarized her description with the now-viral remark, “Ganda lang siya.”
When discussing Annabelle, she explained that she found the horror character scarier because viewers could not predict what it might do.
Her answer was framed around the fictional characters.
There was no explicit reference to Barbie Imperial or Annabelle Rama in her explanation.
Why Fans Connected the Remarks to Richard Gutierrez
Although the interview concerned dolls, the names caught the attention of Filipino entertainment audiences.
Barbie Imperial is currently linked romantically to Richard Gutierrez.
Annabelle Rama is Gutierrez’s mother and a longtime entertainment personality.
Sarah Lahbati and Gutierrez’s separation has also received extensive media coverage.
Those connections gave social media users a reason to speculate that Lahbati’s comments carried a double meaning.
Some viewers treated the question as a playful coincidence.
Others suggested that the names had been chosen deliberately to provoke an entertaining reaction.
However, audiences interpreting a joke as personal criticism does not prove that the speaker intended it that way.
The distinction is important when reporting on alleged celebrity feuds.
Instagram Likes Add Fuel to the Online Conversation
The speculation intensified after followers noticed Imperial liking comments beneath her shooting-range post.
Bilyonaryo reported that some of the comments praised Imperial and pushed back against the suggestion that she should be recognized only for her appearance.
One commenter described her as beautiful both inside and out.
Other comments questioned the idea that her beauty was her only notable quality.
KAMI independently reported the activity involving Imperial’s Instagram likes.
Some followers interpreted those interactions as a sign that Imperial was aware of Lahbati’s viral remarks.
But an Instagram like is not equivalent to a direct public statement.
Imperial did not explicitly identify Lahbati as the subject of her shooting-range post.
There was also no verified statement from Imperial confirming that the video was a deliberate response.
Did Sarah Lahbati Intend to Throw Shade?
The evidence available as of October 12 does not establish that Lahbati was personally criticizing Imperial.
In the promotional interview, Yap explicitly explained that his question concerned dolls.
Lahbati’s answer also remained within that context.
She discussed Barbie as a childhood toy and Annabelle as an unpredictable horror character.
Nevertheless, the shared names made the conversation particularly appealing to celebrity followers.
Philstar and the Philippine Daily Inquirer separately reported the online interpretations while documenting the original doll-related context.
The distinction matters because the phrase “ganda lang” can sound dismissive when separated from its original explanation.
In the actual interview, Lahbati was explaining why she did not find the Barbie doll frightening.
That context changes how the statement should be understood.
Philstar Reports No Plan to Engage in a Public Exchange
The October 12 showbiz coverage in Pilipino Star Ngayon offered additional context.
Its columnist reported that the camps associated with Imperial and Rama had no intention of engaging in a public exchange over the viral interview.
That reporting suggests the controversy may remain largely a social media discussion rather than develop into an explicit confrontation.
However, the article did not establish that every person involved had issued a formal statement.
The absence of a public response should not be treated as proof of agreement, anger or a hidden feud.
For now, the documented developments remain the interview, Imperial’s video and the reactions that followed.
A Horror Movie Interview Turns Into Viral Celebrity Gossip
The original interview was part of the promotional campaign for VHS: Viva Horror Stories.
The discussion of Annabelle, a recognizable horror character, fit the entertainment theme of the project.
But the question also created an opportunity for viewers to make associations with well-known Philippine celebrities.
That coincidence transformed a short promotional clip into a widely discussed entertainment story.
It also illustrates how quickly social media can shift attention away from the subject of an interview.
Instead of discussing the film itself, much of the conversation focused on the perceived meaning of the names.
There is no verified evidence that Imperial’s subsequent post was coordinated with the film’s publicity campaign.
Claims that the controversy was deliberately manufactured would therefore be speculative.
Why the Alleged Celebrity Feud Keeps Attracting Attention
The public has followed Lahbati and Gutierrez’s relationship history for years.
Their separation, Gutierrez’s relationship with Imperial and the involvement of prominent entertainment personalities have all contributed to intense online interest.
As a result, even unrelated posts can attract interpretations connected to their personal lives.
Photographs, captions and comments can become subjects of speculation when fans compare them with earlier events.
The latest controversy follows that pattern.
A doll comparison became an alleged personal remark.
A shooting-range video became a supposed response.
And Instagram likes became additional material for online discussion.
But none of those interpretations, taken alone, confirms an actual dispute.
The Bigger Question: Was There Ever a Hidden Message?
The confirmed facts are straightforward.
Sarah Lahbati discussed two fictional dolls during an interview.
She described Barbie as beautiful and familiar, while finding Annabelle more frightening because of the character’s unpredictability.
Barbie Imperial separately posted a video of herself practicing at a shooting range with the caption “Eyes on Target.”
She reportedly liked comments defending her.
Social media users then connected the two developments because of the women’s links to Richard Gutierrez.
What remains unconfirmed is whether either actress intended to communicate a personal message.
The most surprising aspect of the controversy may be how a conversation about fictional dolls became a debate about real celebrities without a verified exchange between them.
For now, there is no confirmed public confrontation to report.
Barbie Imperial’s shooting-range video and Sarah Lahbati’s “ganda lang” remark have fueled another viral showbiz discussion — but the bigger question is whether fans discovered a genuine hidden message or simply connected two unrelated moments.
