The Spanish media landscape was shaken by a candid interview with actor Fernando Tejero, in which he blamed influencer María Pombo for the end of his friendship with Pablo Castellano. The actor bitterly noted that, in his opinion, the reason was a deep-seated prejudice in Pombo’s mind. According to Tejero, she simply could not accept the idea that a gay man could have close heterosexual friends. The situation escalated to the point where Pombo seriously suspected her future husband of being homosexual solely because of his close relationship with Tejero.
This story took an unexpected and dramatic turn on the popular TV program “Y ahora Sonsoles.” Singer María del Monte, invited as a guest in the studio, could not hide her emotions when she heard about the actor’s ordeal. Her reaction was immediate and very sharp. The artist expressed her deep outrage that, in today’s society, people still make such remarks. She firmly stated that a person’s sexual orientation in no way limits their social circle and does not mean they cannot be friends with members of the same sex.
Expanding on her point, a noticeably frustrated del Monte delivered an impassioned speech in defense of equality and common sense. She cited a personal example, explaining that she tells her friends she loves them every day, which in no way implies any kind of intimate relationship between them. The singer criticized the harmful stereotype that suggests homosexual people are attracted to everyone. This is absolutely untrue, she emphasized. According to her, when choosing partners, they are guided by the same criteria and preferences as everyone else, and are just as selective.
The artist added that she is under no obligation to be attracted to every woman she passes on the street. She then addressed her remarks directly to Maria Pombo, advising her to think carefully in the future about the kind of “gems” she shares. The host of the program, Sonsoles Ónega, fully supported the guest and sadly noted that such obvious things still have to be explained.
In closing her speech, María del Monte stressed that genuine feelings are above any kind of prejudice. She explained that people fall in love not with gender, but with the person—their gestures, looks, and personality. In her view, love is not born “below the waist.” The singer, with a touch of irony, remarked that to find the ideal partner one would have to meet everyone on the planet, which, as we know, is an impossible task.
