Denise Julia vs. BJ Pascual: A Christmas Controversy Sparked by a Podcast

The Filipino entertainment industry was rocked this holiday season after renowned photographer BJ Pascual named rising OPM star Denise Julia as the “worst” personality he has worked with. Pascual aired his frustrations on Killa Kush’s Bad Btch Bible* podcast, shedding light on a canceled photoshoot for Julia’s music release.

The controversy unfolded quickly, dividing netizens and sparking heated debates. With Pascual’s version of events painting Julia as unprofessional, and Julia responding on Christmas Day to defend herself, the incident has raised questions about communication and accountability in the entertainment industry.

What Happened on the Podcast?

During his appearance on The Bad Btch Bible*, Pascual shared how the planned collaboration with Denise Julia’s team turned into one of his most stressful experiences. According to Pascual, Julia’s team attempted to cancel a scheduled photoshoot the night before it was set to happen due to an issue with their chosen hairstylist’s availability.

To avoid further disruptions, Pascual decided to cancel the shoot entirely, covering the associated cancellation fees himself. He then revealed that he never received an apology or even a follow-up from Julia after the incident. “I never heard from her—no thank you, no sorry, no anything,” he said, adding that it was one of the most disappointing professional encounters he had ever experienced.

Pascual’s remarks triggered widespread backlash against Julia, with many fans labeling her as unprofessional. But others began asking: who is Denise Julia, and how did the situation spiral so publicly?

Who Is Denise Julia?

At just 22 years old, Denise Julia, born Julia Denise Lee on February 24, 2002, is making a name for herself in the OPM industry. Known for her soulful R&B sound, she gained widespread attention with her viral hit “B.A.D.”, followed by her chart-topper “NVMD”. Her music, often described as relatable and raw, explores themes of heartbreak and complicated relationships, earning her the title “Patron Saint of Situationships” from fans.

Before entering the music scene, Denise Julia showcased her artistic talents in other ways. She started as a stage actress and public speaker, even competing in extemporaneous speech contests as a child. Later, she joined the Ateneo Musicians' Pool while studying diplomacy and international relations at Ateneo de Manila University.

In 2021, she released her debut single “Difficult,” followed by several other tracks and two EPs, Sweet Nothings Chapters 1 and 2. This December 14, she headlined her first major concert, Sweet Nothings: The Denise Julia Experience, at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.

Denise Julia has always been vocal about her identity, proudly embracing her morena skin and advocating for self-acceptance. She considers her music an outlet for representing women who share her experiences and challenges societal beauty standards.

The Christmas Day "Tell-All" and Denise Julia’s Timeline of Events (Full Transcript Below)

After a wave of criticism following Pascual’s podcast revelations, Denise Julia broke her silence on December 25 through a series of Instagram Stories. In her posts, she presented her side of the story, complete with screenshots of conversations between her manager and Pascual’s team. She clarified that the cancellation was not her doing and provided a detailed timeline of events.

May to June 2024:

Denise Julia’s team reached out to Pascual to collaborate on a photoshoot for her EP. Initial online meetings and personal calls between Julia and Pascual showed mutual enthusiasm for the project.

July 2024:

Julia’s manager proposed a budget of ₱650,000 for the photoshoot and music video. However, Pascual’s team failed to respond to the proposed budget for weeks, leaving Julia’s team uncertain about whether the shoot could proceed.

Late July 2024:

Pascual’s team sent their own budget proposal—three days before the shoot was scheduled—which amounted to ₱1.2 million, nearly double Julia’s budget. In response, Julia’s team stretched their budget to ₱800,000 and proposed compromises, such as canceling the music video or reducing the shoot layouts.

Two Days Before the Shoot:

Despite efforts to adjust the budget, Pascual’s team countered with a reduced figure of ₱1 million, still exceeding Julia’s offer. Pascual’s team ultimately canceled the shoot, citing “differences in production processes.”

Who’s at Fault?

Once Denise Julia shared her side of the story, opinions online shifted. While some netizens continued to criticize her, others turned their scrutiny toward BJ Pascual and his team.  

Support for Denise Julia

Many netizens sympathized with Julia, highlighting the apparent communication gaps on Pascual’s side. Her manager’s follow-ups and willingness to stretch the budget were seen as efforts to make the project work.  

One commenter noted, “Why confirm a shoot date if the budget hasn’t been finalized? This could’ve been avoided if BJ’s team had been clear from the start.”* Another added, *“Denise Julia already went above her budget, but it’s not her fault if it wasn’t enough.”

Criticism of BJ Pascual

Some netizens criticized Pascual for discussing the matter publicly instead of resolving it privately. Many felt that his comments on the podcast unnecessarily tarnished Julia’s reputation.  

“BJ should’ve addressed this behind closed doors. Making Denise look bad on a podcast was uncalled for,”one user wrote.  

Others felt Pascual’s decision to proceed with preparations despite the lack of a signed contract was risky. *“No contract, no obligation. BJ incurred those expenses at his own risk. Legally, Denise’s team owes him nothing,”* one commenter explained.  

In Defense of BJ Pascual

Supporters of Pascual, however, argued that he likely assumed the project was pushing through since the dates had been blocked. From his perspective, the lack of a signed agreement may not have signaled that the budget was still up for negotiation.  

“BJ probably thought everything was set because they agreed on the dates. He blocked his calendar, prepared his team, and incurred costs—only to face budget issues days before the shoot,”one netizen remarked.  

The controversy between Denise Julia and BJ Pascual highlights critical lessons for the entertainment industry:  

The absence of a signed contract in this case left both parties vulnerable to miscommunication. Budgets, schedules, and deliverables should always be finalized and documented before any preparation begins.  

Both Denise Julia and BJ Pascual’s teams could have benefited from more transparent communication. Setting expectations early on—especially regarding budgets and timelines—would have prevented misunderstandings.  

Making grievances public can damage reputations and escalate conflicts unnecessarily. While social media and podcasts are effective platforms for storytelling, they are not always the best venues for resolving professional disagreements.  

As Denise Julia and BJ Pascual plan to meet face-to-face after the holidays, the controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of professionalism and transparency in creative collaborations. While both sides made mistakes, the fallout also underscores how quickly public opinion can shift, especially in the age of social media.  

For Denise Julia, this incident is an opportunity to grow as an artist navigating a competitive industry. For BJ Pascual, it’s a chance to reflect on how best to manage disputes with collaborators. Ultimately, the controversy reveals not just a clash of personalities but also a cautionary tale for the broader creative community.  

BONUS: Transcript of the conversations posted by Denise Julia between BJ Pascual's Manager and hers:

May 27-30, 2024

11:08 AM: BJ's Manager sends a message: "BJ's free on June 10 around 2-3pm. Let me know if this works"

01:05 AM (May 28th): DJ's Manager responds: "I'll lyk by tomorrow morning. Thank you"

08:33 AM (May 30th): DJ's Manager sends a message: "Let's lock this in. And confirm it! Thank you"

08:49 AM (May 30th): BJ's Manager responds: "Great, thanks"

08:49 AM (May 30th): BJ's Manager responds: "Thank you!"

June 9, 2024

09:45 AM: BJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi, may I know meeting link for tomorrow?"

10:07 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi! I thought it was in person?"

June 10, 2024

00:26: BJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi! Okay with BJ for online meeting at 2pm later."

01:39: Zoom meeting details are sent by DJ's Manager.

June 23, 2024:

DJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi! Good morning. Hope you're well. I believe DJ and BJ discussed a moodboard as a next step from their meeting. I wanted to kindly check in on that and also discuss scheduling a shoot for DJ's upcoming project. Lmk your thoughts. Happy to also hop on a call with you this week to further discussion."

23:46: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Sounds good that works. Let me get back at you in the next hour. Thank you for getting back to me."

June 24, 2024

11:01 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi! Can we make 2nd week of July work? Is that doable? Too soon? 3rd week of July is also open."

June 25, 2024

09:43 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi Pearl - Wanted to see if there was any updates / check in on this"

June 26, 2024

00:17 AM: BJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi John, I'm just waiting for BJ's feedback and will get back to you once I have the details"

01:41 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Thank you!"

June 26, 2024:

10:44 AM: BJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi John! Bj will finalize deck within the week. But definitely wants to do the album cover and single for Better Than The Boy"

22:54 PM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Then for the schedule of the shoot, free dates of Bj and the production designer is July 26-28"

July 11, 2024:

11:54 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi!! Thanks you. Let's please hold those dates for sure and another date or 2 for the music video as hearing that DJ and him are also discussing a music video."

July 31, 2024:

08:38 AM: BJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi John, just want to check if you're okay with the 14th so that I can lock it in with the team?"

09:58 AM: DJ's Manager responds: "Yes I liked it above."

09:58 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Lmk when you guys have the treatments and stuff"

10:00 AM: BJ's Manager responds: "Copy. I will check with BJ when we can schedule a meeting to get the ball rolling."

10:03 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Sounds good! And to confirm is August 14 both the album art photo shoot and video shoot for Better Than He Does?"

August 2, 2024:

02:52 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi checking in on this question and if we have a day to schedule the meeting yet? We're less than 2 weeks out"

02:52 AM: BJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi John! I'm just checking the availability of everyone. Will get back to you."

August 5, 2024:

11:43 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi. Good evening. Checking back in here."

12:17 PM: BJ's Manager responds: "Hi John, BJ is just finalizing the details before he sets the meeting with you guys. Will get back to you regarding the final schedule."

12:18 PM: DJ's Manager responds: "Ok copy thanks. Shoot is in like a week so just making sure we're still on schedule"

August 7, 2024:

04:07 PM: BJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi John! Are you guys free tonight to meet?"

August 11, 2024:

11:31 AM: BJ's Manager sends a message: "Hi John, sending here rough estimate for the 2 day shoot. Let me know your thoughts on this." (Image of budget proposal is attached)

12:08 PM: DJ's Manager responds: "Thanks looking through it"

August 12, 2024:

00:58 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Just went through this and checked our budget of what we can work with. We're maxed out at 800K. We initially only had 650 to work with but can stretch it to 800K covering the below deliverables. Lmk if we can make it work in any way:"

01:03 AM: BJ's Manager responds: "Hi John, i'll discuss with the them and lets see what we can do."

01:03 AM: DJ's Manager responds: "Appreciate that Pearl thank you"

August 13, 2024:

11:21 AM: DJ's Manager sends a message: "Thanks we appreciate that. On my end, also been doing this for a more than a decade with production companies worldwide. No vendors I work with would do anything without a budget actually agreed upon. No production company would even a lift a finger until that's set. Too much risks involved. I think that's where the confusion is. I should've been more straight forward with how important it was that we agreed on a number before confirming anything. I thought that's protocol for y'all as well so I apologize for me assuming that's the case. I didn't expect for work to be done / costs to be incurred without a final budget set"

11:27 AM: BJ's Manager responds: "Okay so due to the differences in our production processes, I think it would be best to cancel the shoot. Thank you."