After a public dispute with his brother Fran, Cayetano Rivera has withdrawn from the spotlight. He now spends his time painting and with family, steering clear of further comment on the Goyesca controversy. His silence marks a shift in the Rivera family dynamic.
After making headlines with a pointed comment about missing the Goyesca de Ronda, Cayetano Rivera has stepped out of the media spotlight. While his brother Fran spoke about the controversy in ¡HOLA!, Cayetano has chosen not to respond further, letting his silence stand in place of interviews. The family rift remains unresolved, and the public is left to guess what might happen next.
Rather than add fuel to the conflict, Cayetano has turned his attention to art. He was recently seen in a studio, surrounded by canvases and other artists. Among them was Fabiola Urien Saenz, a self-taught painter from Burgos known for her socially engaged work. Their meeting happened during one of Cayetano’s painting sessions, which have become a way for him to escape constant public scrutiny.
Cayetano publicly responded to the controversy through social media, stating: 'Mi historia, si quiero, la cuento yo,' emphasizing his choice to control his own narrative.
For more than a year, Cayetano has stayed away from the bullring and the demanding schedule that came with it. He still keeps up a strict training routine and spends time with his children, Lucía Rivera and young Cayetano. The move from the arena to the studio hasn’t slowed him down; instead, he’s poured his energy into painting, which now shapes his daily life.
His interest in art became public in April with the launch of Panda, a collection made with Domingo Zapata. Zapata, sometimes called the Spanish Andy Warhol, is known internationally, and his work has caught the attention of celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio. Zapata and Cayetano have worked together before: in 2023, Zapata painted a bullfighting suit for Cayetano, which he wore at the Picassiana de Málaga. This summer, they hosted actor Adrien Brody in the Balearic Islands, showing the close ties between art, film, and bullfighting.
According to Antena 3, the conflict between Cayetano and Fran Rivera intensified due to disagreements over whether Cayetano had communicated his intention to retire in Ronda, a location with deep symbolic meaning for the Ordoñez-Rivera family. The 2026 Goyesca was particularly significant because it marked an important anniversary related to Antonio Ordóñez.
While Cayetano focuses on art and family, he has kept his relationship with Tamara Gorro private and has not responded to Fran or their younger brother, Julián Contreras, who recently spoke about the family split. Julián said on Fiesta that he supports what he sees as logical and coherent, adding that Cayetano is now facing the same difficulties he has dealt with for years. Julián was not invited to the Goyesca either, which shows how deep the family divisions run.
The Rivera family’s troubles are not unusual in Spain, where family disputes often become public. As seen in a previous case involving inheritance battles in Madrid, these conflicts can change relationships and reputations for years. For the Riveras, the mix of public legacy and private tension has created a spectacle that neither side seems willing to resolve in front of cameras.
Cayetano’s turn to art is more than a personal escape. It’s a clear decision not to let family drama define his public image. By focusing on creativity instead of conflict, he is taking control of his own story, even as others in the family continue to speak out. This may not heal old wounds, but it shows Cayetano’s intent: he will not be drawn back into public arguments. In a country where family and tradition are closely linked, his silence and focus on art stand out as a rare act of self-direction.
