A discussion on the generational divide—one of the most pressing issues in contemporary Spanish society—turned into chaos on the popular talk show La Sexta Xplica. The topic, where young Spaniards on average are nearly 50% worse off than their parents were at the same age and the wealth gap has increased ninefold, initially called for a serious and multifaceted conversation. The studio gathered people of different ages and social backgrounds: from young people and pensioners to entrepreneurs. However, it became clear from the very start that a constructive dialogue was not going to happen.
The show’s host, José Yélamo, immediately sensed the rising tensions and tried to set the tone for the discussion, urging guests not to interrupt each other since there was still plenty of time ahead. But his words were drowned out by the noise. Entrepreneur Paloma Martín, representing the Lideremos platform, stood out in particular. She systematically ignored all etiquette, interrupting anyone who expressed a view different from her own. Instead of waiting her turn, Martín tried to literally shout down her opponents—making the entire conversation completely unintelligible and exhausting for viewers at home.
Jose El Amo’s patience was put to a serious test. At first, he politely asked the guest to follow the rules. “Paloma, I’ve had to stop you three or four times already. Please control yourself. I understand you get passionate, but right now it’s not your turn,” he told her. These admonitions had no effect. At one point, even another participant in the debate couldn’t take it anymore and asked Martin to be quiet to stop her stream of words, which drew laughter and approval from the host.
The climax came when El Amo began receiving messages from an angry audience. Putting aside his usual smile, he turned seriously to the studio. The host reported that people were writing to complain about the unbearable noise, comparing what was happening to a “chicken coop” where nothing could be understood. He stressed that if the goal of the program is to enrich the discussion and convey ideas to the public, respect for other speakers is essential. But even after this direct intervention, Paloma Martin did not calm down and tried to assign the floor to another guest herself, essentially taking over the moderator’s role. That was when El Amo had enough. “Let me host the program myself,” he cut in sharply, before adding ironically: “If you can do it better, maybe they’ll give you this seat.”
