Denise Julia, the rising Filipina R&B singer, has taken to social media to clarify the controversy surrounding her recent cancelled photoshoot with celebrity photographer BJ Pascual. The situation escalated after Pascual labeled Denise as the 'worst' personality he had ever worked with on the 'Bad B*tch Bible' podcast, alleging unprofessional behavior on her part. On Christmas Day, Denise decided to finally air her side of the story through a series of posts on her Instagram Stories.
Denise explained the timeline of their communication, stating how her team reached out to Pascual back in May for the photoshoot. She noted several attempts to schedule and confirm the project, saying, “Despite us following up many times and not getting replies for weeks at a time... We were patient and pushed back our deadlines to accommodate BJ's schedule because we knew he was booked and busy.” This statement highlights her willingness to adjust her own plans to collaborate with the renowned photographer.
The misunderstanding arose during discussions about the project budget. Initially, Denise’s manager proposed a cost of P650,000 for the photoshoot. Despite the team's patience, BJ Pascual's response was delayed, and when they finally communicated their cost, it had skyrocketed to P1.2 million just three days before the scheduled shoot. Denise expressed her frustration on social media about this lack of prior communication, stating, “We can't really have a shoot date without us being sure if the budget is even feasible to them.”
Further complicate the situation, there appeared to be some misalignment of production processes between the two teams. According to Denise, she and her manager communicated their needs and expectations clearly, but instances of unclear communication led to growing tensions. She acknowledged some personal responsibility for not extending communication earlier, admitting, “I should have reached out.”
Denise took the opportunity to address her mistakes, apologizing publicly and emphasizing her admiration for BJ as both an artist and as a professional. She explained, “I want to sincerely apologize for my shortcomings as an artist and for the unprofessionalism you've experienced.” She expressed regret for the misunderstandings, hoping to move forward constructively.
On the flip side, BJ Pascual, during his podcast, expressed significant frustration with the entire experience, declaring, “I never heard from her, no thank you, no sorry, no anything.” His comments underscored the disappointment and strain caused by the lack of direct and timely communication between the teams. BJ clarified how he had to incur losses due to the cancellation on short notice.
The discussions did not end there, as both parties indicated they are willing to meet and sort things out after the holidays. Denise expressed her desire to have “an honest conversation,” hoping to turn the misunderstanding around and build something positive from the experience. She added, “I truly didn’t realize the extent of your frustrations until now. I’m surprised by how this unfolded but also determined to learn and grow from it.”
Meanwhile, BJ Pascual acknowledged Denise's outreach, stating, “While a sincere apology would certainly be appreciated... I hope we can all learn something from this experience and work on improving industry practices.” His response suggests an openness to not only resolve their individual issues but also potentially improve the standards of collaboration within the creative industry.
While the immediate situation has been addressed, both figures appear ready to use this experience as a learning tool. They hope to mend their professional relationship and perhaps, down the line, create new opportunities for collaboration. Both Denise and BJ have emphasized the importance of clear communication, mutual respect, and setting realistic expectations as they navigate future projects.
