A new conflict has erupted in Spain’s digital space, centered around the country’s two most influential social media personalities. What appeared to be an innocent exchange on a comedy show turned into a catalyst for a public quarrel, exposing tensions between high-profile figures followed by millions.
It all began when Laura Escanes appeared on the show “Al cielo con ella.” The host jokingly asked if she liked to read—a question viewers saw as a clear reference to recent remarks by María Pombo, who had publicly admitted she doesn’t enjoy reading and insisted that this doesn’t make anyone better or worse than others. Escanes laughed and replied that she does read, though she wishes she did so more often. This response alone was enough to spark heated debate online.
A few hours later, María Pombo posted a series of messages on her account about respect and the unacceptability of bullying. Although she didn’t mention any names, many social media users regarded her statements as a direct response to Escanes’s appearance. Pombo shared an image stating, “If a joke laughs at someone, it’s not funny,” along with the hashtag #stopbullying. She then posted another picture reminding schoolchildren not to laugh at classmates, adding the comment: “A reminder that matters for adults, too.”
This reaction prompted Laura Escanes to break her silence. She considered the hints to be unfair and recorded several video messages to clarify her position. The influencer from Catalonia emphasized that her participation was within a comedic format, and her laughter was not intended to offend anyone, but came from the understanding that the question itself could generate sensational headlines in the press. She explained that her response was completely neutral and did not contain any criticism of anyone.
Escanes expressed deep disappointment over the bullying accusations. She noted that humor has always been an important tool for her, including self-irony, and that attacking others is not her style. She was particularly hurt by the fact that she had publicly supported Pombo in the past, even when no one asked her to. In her view, inflating the controversy over nothing seems like a deliberate attempt to stir up conflict. Laura also mentioned that this situation is extremely untimely, as she is about to make her debut as a host at the GenZ Awards ceremony, and the last thing she wants is to walk the red carpet at the center of a scandal sparked by a colleague.
