In an effort to boost the ratings of its new weekend show ‘¡Vaya fama!’, the Telecinco channel took an unexpected step. The show’s management decided to bring Montoya, the notoriously controversial contestant from the reality project ‘La isla de las tentaciones’, on board as a reporter, hoping his media persona would revive public interest in a format that had an underwhelming start.
His first reporting assignment took place last Saturday, October 4, immediately throwing the newcomer into the thick of things. Montoya traveled to his hometown of Sevilla to cover an event the press had already dubbed the ‘wedding of the year’—the marriage of aristocrat Cayetano Martínez de Irujo and Bárbara Mirjan. The report was broadcast live from the entrance of the Cristo de los Gitanos church in Sevilla, where hundreds of onlookers had gathered.
Accompanied by two other correspondents from the show, the brand-new reporter was given a special task: to present the groom with a branded souvenir—a miniature caricature—from the program. However, the mission was only partially accomplished. Montoya managed to hand the figurine to Alfonso Díez, who promised to deliver it to Cayetano. Host Antonio Montero, watching from the studio, joked that if they hadn’t accepted the figurine, Montoya might have followed the groom all the way to the altar.
The appearance of the ‘Temptation Island’ and ‘Survivors’ star in a new role sparked a wave of reactions on social media, mostly negative. Internet users criticized Telecinco for hiring someone without a journalism degree. Many noted that this devalues the profession, pointing out obvious mistakes made by the newcomer—for example, he didn’t always hold the microphone correctly when interviewing people.
Angry posts from graduates of journalism and audiovisual communications faculties spread across the internet. The main message was that while qualified professionals with degrees are left jobless or earn meager salaries, television channels give prestigious positions to media personalities. Some argued that such staffing decisions erode faith in the ‘culture of effort’ and professionalism.
Despite the criticism, Montoya himself seemed to be having a great time. He stirred up excitement among bystanders gathered at the church, managed to chat with Hubertus von Hohenlohe, and enthusiastically announced that he had fulfilled his dream by meeting the legendary footballer Emilio Butragueño. His behavior was more reminiscent of an enthusiastic fan than a member of the press.
The broadcast opened with a short segment showing Montoya preparing for his first day on the job. In this lighthearted report, he also managed to pop into other weddings held earlier that day at the same church, creating a cheerful and entertaining atmosphere ahead of the main event.
