RTVE has launched an investigation into a comment made by reporter Lorena González around Eduardo Camavinga’s presentation at Real Madrid, which took place on Wednesday night. González was a guest in the program Estudio Estadio, which is broadcast on the Teledeporte channel, the sports channel of the Spanish public broadcaster. She made an inappropriate comment while thinking the microphone was off.
“This boy is blacker than his suit, isn’t he?” González said, assuming her microphone was off. However, the microphone turned out to be switched on, so that it could be heard and the fragment caused quite a stir. RTVE soon issued a statement, apologizing and announcing measures against González. The comment was attributed to someone “who, as an employee of the program Estudio Estadio, does not belong to the staff of RTVE and has a lack of respect that is not befitting public television”. “We will take appropriate measures.”
Nacho Poveda, presenter of Estudio Estadio, apologized on behalf of González a day after the comment was heard on television. “Lorena didn’t mean to offend the player with the unfortunate comment. She will have a chance to apologize herself on RTVE next Sunday,” said Poveda. However, González has already made himself heard via a post on social media.
“I would like to offer my sincere apologies to anyone who is offended for the comment I made at Estudio Estadio on Wednesday evening. The comment was not intended to be malicious or disparaging towards the player. Despite being unfortunate, there was absolutely no racial slur in the comment. I am absolutely not a racist person, as I am now portrayed,” writes González with a photo of tied hands on Instagram. “I understand that this unfortunate comment is quickly judged on social media. But the insults and threats are baseless. It was a comparison that could have been made on anyone of any skin color.”
“People who know me know that I always try to do my work with as much professionalism and respect as possible. I cannot be further from racism, homophobia or other intolerant thoughts,” González continues. “I would like to apologize in the same place I made the comment and worked for nine years, but I will not be at Estudio Estadio next Sunday. I also didn’t want to let more time pass to apologize and thank my colleagues, family and friends for all the support.”
González concludes her message by announcing to temporarily withdraw from social media. “I never thought I would get involved in something like this, but I accept the consequences. I am temporarily withdrawing from social media. This time it was my turn to receive brutal hatred and I have family who suffer from it too. Thanks everyone.”