A live broadcast of the popular Spanish program “En boca de todos” on the Cuatro television channel took an entirely unexpected turn. Host Nacho Abad interrupted the planned script to publicly respond to harsh criticism from Sumar coalition deputy Jaume Asens. The reason for this was a message the politician posted on social media, which the journalist considered an unacceptable attack on the reputation of his team and himself personally.
The point of contention was the story of activist Hanan Alkalde, a participant in the humanitarian mission “Flotilla of Freedom.” In his post, Mr. Asens claimed that the program’s editorial team was deliberately creating a negative image of the woman, unfairly portraying her as a supporter of Hamas. Furthermore, the politician asserted that the journalists allegedly mocked the activist by coming up with the derogatory nickname “Barbie Gaza,” which ultimately triggered a wave of insults, ridicule, and even death threats against her.
With a very serious expression, Nacho Abad addressed the deputy directly, who was evidently watching the broadcast. The host firmly called on the politician to stop using social media to spread accusations and to have the courage to voice his claims live, face to face with his opponent. Abad categorically denied ever having used the nickname “Barbie Gaza” in reference to Hanan, calling the deputy’s statements an outright lie. He also mentioned that he had already tried to contact Asens via Instagram but had not received a clear response.
The culmination of this televised monologue was a direct challenge. The journalist publicly pledged that if Jaume Asens produced a video in which he himself used the offensive nickname, then he, Nacho Abad, would immediately apologize on his knees right in the studio. However, the host expressed complete confidence that no such video exists, thus emphasizing the meticulousness and professionalism of his editorial team.
Concluding his address, Abad shifted his tone from angry to conciliatory, though he did not retract his statements. He called the deputy a liar, but then invited him to the studio to shake hands and put an end to the conflict, as in his view, hostility leads nowhere. The host wryly noted that the politician readily appears on other TV channels but avoids Cuatro, fully aware that here he would have to answer tough questions. The incident quickly spilled beyond television screens, sparking heated debates online about the limits of journalistic ethics and political criticism.
