Of all the emails and messages I have received regarding the cancellation of WAPA-TV’s “SuperXclusivo” show in Puerto Rico, the following note at the end of this post by my cousin Omar Pereira basically sums up for me why I always thought that the Boicot a La Comay movement was a “perfect social media storm” and why I felt that as a columnist/publisher/activist/journalist I needed to have the Latino Rebels cover this story.
Omar has provided a bilingual version of his initial Facebook post in Spanish, which went viral in Puerto Rico and was also quoted in El Nuevo Día. He wrote this note the same night that the news broke about La Comay’s demise. On a personal level, when I returned to the island two years ago to help Omar and the rest of my family during the tragic loss of my little cousin, I witnessed “SuperXclusivo’s” immoral and illegal ways in trying to “get” a story. It was like dealing with a stalker, and let’s just say this: we knew all the tricks in the book, and “SuperXclusivo” NEVER got the story, yet they caused so much pain and grief during those sad times (and they continued to harass my family even after the fact), that I could not believe that such a show would ever maintain its popularity. Eventually, something would happen.
As I learned more about La Comay and how the puppet continued to blatantly lie about what it broadcasts, I always suspected that Kobbo Santarrosa would piss off someone for the last time, and social media would react swiftly. Think about this: it took 35 days during the holiday season for all this to happen. Can anyone remember another time when a #1-rated show went from hero to goat in just 6 weeks?
Now, those journalists who are defending La Comay (people, it’s a PUPPET) and saying that this is all about freedom of expression, I will disagree 1000%. Freedom of expression has its limits. Making money off of lies and innuendo is one of those limits. I really urge the Comay defenders to actually READ the FCC’s policy and stop misinforming the Puerto Rican public. Like I have said before, this entire boycott movement is the PERFECT EXAMPLE of true freedom of expression.
La Comay was a bully. Simple as that. People finally spoke out against the bully, and what the traditional dinosaur media in Puerto Rico fails to understand is that this is not just about 76,000 people. It is about millions, because those 76,000 people dedicated themselves to share news, make calls, educate sponsors and spread the word. THAT is what social media is all about: your message always has the opportunity to reach millions, just like La Comay did. La Comay used to be the only show in town. It is no longer.
As for co-host Héctor Travieso, who asked this week, “What did Kobbo Santarrosa ever do to deserve this?,” I have your answer. I was going to respond to his question myself, but when Omar wrote what he wrote, I didn’t have to. Omar’s words are my words as well. This one was for Juliancito.
If my crime is that I made this story personal, arrest me. It’s called doing it for family. It’s called doing it for love. It’s called doing it for a better Puerto Rico. The bochinche is for the old Puerto Rico. The new Puerto Rico is about inclusion, respect, and making sure ALL voices are heard, and not just the voices of a traditional mainstream media that have done nothing to advance the cause for my beloved island.
Here is what Omar wrote:
Ahora sí me desahogo. Admito que vi el último programa (la primera vez que lo veo desde hace mucho mucho tiempo). Es una pena que no hayan mantenido a “La Comay Renovada” como decía la promoción del programa para el 2013. Kobbo no habló mal de nadie, se unió al llamado del Gobernador de dejarnos de politiquería y ponernos todos a trabajar juntos por el bien de PR, y hasta criticó de forma sumamente justificada a una persona por quejarse de que el gobierno le regaló un “trapo’e bola”. Me imagino que fue “too little, too late.”
La Comay tenía que irse por cualquiera de las siguientes razones – sólo una era necesaria, y la lista es aún mas larga que esta. Pero nuestra apatía como pueblo le otorgó el poder a la “trapo’e muñeca”. Una cosa es un programa de chismes, otra cosa fue La Comay. Hoy celebramos porque no habrá alguien enseñándole a nuestro pueblo como odiar, como burlarse de otros, como destruir reputaciones y familias, y cómo usar el dolor de los demás para lucrarse. Esta victoria es de:
- La viuda, familiares y amigos de Agustín Areizaga Cordero (el que fue vilmente asesinado y decapitado en Moca, y La Comay tuvo la osadía de enseñar su cabeza decapitada en la TV)
- La viuda, familiares y amigos de José Enrique Gómez Saladín (“el publicista” cuando insinuó que se mereció su muerte
- Susan Soltero de la cual se burló en innumerables ocasiones por su peso
- Choco Orta la cual humilló por ser gay
- Itzamar Pena y Papulin por reclamar que su hijo no era legítimo
- José Raúl Arriaga del cual mintió y destruyó su carrera (los federales descubrieron que fue una fabricación)
- Magaly Febles de la cual se burló cuando le embargaron su casa
- Yolandita Monge la cual humilló
- Adolfo Krans al cual le destruiste su matrimonio con una mentira
- Una amiga mía que no voy a mencionar la cual hizo pasar por un infierno con su hijo y su esposo al alegar infidelidad
- Victor Santos, Rafael Cox Alomar, y otros de la raza negra por decirles monos
- Belen Martinez la cual humilló al decirle ballena negra (por su peso y su raza)
- Los familiares y amigos de Lorenzo González Cacho, por utilizar el caso del niño Lorenzo para tener ratings y hacer dinero, y entorpecer el trabajo de las autoridades divulgando información privilegiada, posiblemente haciéndole el trabajo muchísimo mas difícil a los fiscales e investigadores
- Los amigos y conocidos de los supuestos sospechosos del caso de Lorenzo los cuales han estado siendo acosados por La Comay
- Todos los que la veían y se dejaban de coger de zángano por La Comay creyéndole todo lo que decía, sin cuestionarle nada, y hasta creyéndose que lo que hacía era “periodismo investigativo”
- Y finalmente, de mi esposa Cynthia Galinaltis, de mis hijos, de mis papás, de mi hermana, de mis sobrinas, de mi suegra, de mi cuñado, de toda mi familia extendida, y de todos mis amigos, por todas las mentiras que dijo de nosotros, por todo lo que nos hizo pasar cuando estábamos intentando mantener a nuestros hijos y a Cynthia fuera de su trapo’e programa, y por el via crucis que me hizo pasar para poder enterrar a nuestro querido Julián en paz.
Sobre 76,000 almas lograron esto, pero hubo una más desde allá arriba que ayudó, ¿verdad Julio Ricardo Varela?
Este fue nuestro #boricuawinter… Algo me dice que no será la última vez que nos unimos para hacer bien por Puerto Rico.
***
Now I’m venting. I admit that I watched the last program (the first time I do so in a long, long time). It’s sad that they did not keep the “Renovated Comay” as the show’s promotion for 2013 stated. Kobbo did not insult anybody, he echoed the new Governor’s call for the people of Puerto Rico to stop politicking and for all of us to roll up our sleeves for the good of Puerto Rico, and even very justifiably criticized a person for complaining that the Government had given her daughter a “trapo’e bola” or “crappy sports ball” as a gift for the Governor’s Three Kings Day Celebration. I imagine that it ended up being “too little, too late.”
La Comay had to go for any of the following reasons – only one was necessary, and the list is even longer than this one. But our apathy as a people gave this “crappy doll” all of its power. One thing is to have a gossip program, but La Comay was something else. Today we celebrate because there will not be anyone teaching our people who to hate, how to humiliate, how to destroy reputations and families, and how to use someone else’s grief and suffering in order to enrich himself. This victory belongs to:
- The widow, family and friends of Agustín Areizaga Cordero (who was assassinated in a gruesome way and decapitated in Moca, and La Comay dared to show his decapitated head on primetime TV)
- The widow, family and friends of José Enrique Gómez Saladín (“the publicist” when La Comay insinuated that he deserved his horrible death).
- Susan Soltero, whom La Comay constantly made fun of because of her weight
- Choco Orta, who was humiliated by La Comay for being gay
- Itzamar Peña y Papulín for La Comay falsely claiming that their son was illegitimate (they won a lawsuit against La Comay for this)
- José Raúl Arriaga, whom La Comay lied about, destroying his career as a journalists (the feds eventually found that that this was a fabrication)
- Magaly Febles , hom La Comay made fun of when her home was repossessed
- Yolandita Monge, whom La Comay constantly humiliated
- Adolfo Krans, whose marriage to Ex-Governor Sila María Calderón La Comay destroyed by lying about infidelity (and Krans eventually “won” in court, if there is such a thing, after losing everything else)
- A friend of mine which I won’t mention which was put through hell together by La Comay, together with her son and her husband, after La Comay alleged an infidelity (and her son went through a long period of psychological treatment after this)
- Víctor Santos, Rafael Cox Alomar, and other black Puerto Ricans for calling them “monkeys”
- Belén Martínez, who was humiliated by La Comay when she called her “black whale” (because of her weight and skin color)
- Family and friends of Lorenzo González Cacho, for using the case of his murder to obtain ratings and enrich the puppet, while disrupting the work of the authorities when the puppet continuously divulged seemingly privileged and confidential information, possibly making it much more difficult for the DA’s and the investigators to do their job
- Friends and acquaintances of the supposed suspects of the Lorenzo case, who have been stalked by La Comay’s staff, even at their workplaces
- Everyone who watched her and who fell for her lies, believing everything she said, without questioning anything, even believing that what she did was “investigative journalism”
- And finally, this victory also belongs to my wife Cynthia Galinaltis, to my sons, to my parents, to my sister, to my nieces, to my mother-in-law, to my brother-in-law, to my whole extended family, for all the lies she told about us, for everything she made us go through during the most difficult moment of our lives, when we were trying to keep our other two sons and Cynthia away from his crappy program, and for the hell he made me go through so we could bury our dear Julián in peace.
Over 76,000 souls achieved this, but there was one more from up above that also helped, ¿right, Julio Ricardo Varela?
This was our #boricuawinter… Something tells me it will not be the last time that we will unite to do good things for Puerto Rico.
Gracias por compartir esta informacion, Y creeme al decirte que aunque defendi en algun momento a la comay,(por ciertas cosas) tengo que aceptar que me han echo ver otro angulo de el problema que quisas no las puse en balanza,….Gracias
Hermano Teodoro, eres un caballero de primera clase. ¡Saludos! Julito
I know you are talking about your personal case. The woman that left a child on a car for so many hours that the child die. It was a very sad case, but you have to admit that if that were me or any other person, not a doctor, that person will be on jail at this time. What is going to keep you so busy that you are going to forget your own child . One thing La Camay show us was that justice was implemented according not with the crime but with the social live you live or the family you come from. Well I guess her conscience will take care of it, because she knows the truth. I can’t not feel sorry for you but for the child who lost his life because of a careless “mother” Well we should boicot her practice .
With all due respect, you are entering very personal territory and your comment is exactly why I always thought that La Comay did little to benefit viewers. You are making very sad and generalized judgmental statements about a family member. You do not know the truth at all, but La Comay’s lies suggested to you that there was “something else” to the story. Why don’t you take a moment and actually research the fact that such an incident occurs so much more than you think instead of lamenting the libelous acts of a puppet? Sorry, your comment just confirm how toxic the show was. It was a show based on lies.
I will start by saying that I did watch some of the Superexclusivo shows when I visited the island. I did not found the show interesting, so I will change the channel and watch something else. That’s precisely my point. If we had done that some time ago we would not have the situations where so many families got affected by this doll. It shows the state of our society. We allowed those people who work for the show to do whatever they wanted, say what they wanted to say without consequences. Because until it messes with my self or my family, it’s funny! Yes there is freedom of speech. But it’s limited to responsibility, which the show’s producer believed was above him and his show
Great point.
The show was a success and only real reliable source of news to believe. Remember, it was a good comedy show that became a reality show. Solo siguen el patron de lo que ya la gente quiere oir. Las razones arriba indicadas… realmente creo que no tienen ninguna influencia. Especialmente el denominado, y que “Boicot” En PR hay mas de 90% que no apruban vivir inmoralmente. Lo que si es posible, son los agresores delincuentes con dinero y “Palas” en el gobierno de P.R, que estan en investigacion y fianza, amenasaron a alguien para callarlos. Que viva la libre exprecion! SeeYaa!
Even a clock tells the correct time twice a day. La Comay can go online and start her own network. No one is stopping her. Viva un nuevo Puerto Rico.
All people had to do was change the channel. just sayin…..
I don’t get why so many PR television shows feature men dressed as women, or men pretending to be women. Its silly. PR women are beautiful. Fire all the TV men who pretend to be women and hire women to be the women.
Just my two cents on a totally ridiculous situation with Puerto Rico television.
Dear Julio,
Since the Comay is gone I guess PR will be a better place to live, crime will go down, murders will go down, everything will be much better since this puppet is gone. It’s funny how most of you people gloat for bringing a program down. You work tirelessly to get this man off the air for your own ego…If you would put all the time and energy that you have used to bring down the Comay into showing the people in PR how much corruption there is in government or to talk about the high crime that is prevalent in Puerto Rico maybe you would get somewhere. You are what is wrong with this society. You don’t want to speak the truth because you are afraid that you might hurt someone’s feelings? Are you kidding me? You call yourself a journalists? I live here in the states and I have seen how you so called journalists and reporters use dirty tactics to get your story down on paper and TV, but that’s Ok because your reporters. You hunt people down in their own homes, badger and prod just to get a story. You know what this is all about? It’s about the following: “José Raúl Arriaga, whom La Comay lied about, destroying his career as a journalists (the feds eventually found that that this was a fabrication”. He hurt your so called journalist friend. You talk about freedom of speech and in some cases how it might go too far but that only applies to us not to you so called journalist. I want to ask you how and what will you do to make PR a better place to live now that the puppet is gone?
Never said it would solve Puerto Rico’s problems, but it is a step in the right direction. Also, I can’t speak for other journalists’ tactics, just what I know, and what La Comay did was immoral. It is a start. Thanks.
In response to your comments, I have to tell you that if you feel that the person that left the child on the car and die dererve a special treatment, NO, she is guilty as guilty could be, no on La Comays” eyes but in every living soul eyes. You are one of the ones that thing that the so call professionals deserve a special treatment. I don’t
know how can you justify such action. I would love to see you fight for all the others that did something, not ass bad as her, but because they don’t have means, they are in jail. But like I said before, Let her live with her conscience, if she have one. And about the personal territory, you were the one that publish it on line, to justify your opinion. There we go again, and you talk about “La Comay” It is not La Comay that make it toxic, it is people like yoy who expect special treatment……It is what it is, and a child is dead.
We saw SuperExclusivo here in the United States because all the channels that we have are all from other countries so when we saw WAPA America we said great finally! However, this person behind a “doll” would call black people “monos”…make fun of gay people..”patos”, made fun of fat people, showed the head of a murdered victim without remorse or feeling or thinking about what that decapitated family’s feelings were…bring out a casket when someone was fired or let go from a job! Made fun and hurt so many people!! Oh let’s not forget the murder and burning of the publicist. Yes freedom of expression but limits and boundaries should be respected. WAPA America has a great news cast and we are happy to hear and see what is going on our island….
Whom ever wrote this does no know what he is talking about this person never saw the show talking just to hear them selfs talk no knowledge of what is going on Just hatred towards kobo that is all I totally disagreed with the coment
I hope those who made sure SuperXclusivo was canceled are having fun with the mediocre replacement “Lo se todo”. By the way what is there to consider when someone is so negligent to leave a child suffocate in a car? This may not be murder but it is certainly involuntary manslaughter. How can this go unpunished? How many more dead children will die in these conditions while in Puerto Rico TV the express their solidarity with the “tragedy” of the parents? Who worries in Puerto Rico about the defenseless children left to die? This is the tragedy! Not the negligent patent’s regrets.
Ismael, I complitely agree with you. I was in PR recently and I was able to watch “Lo se todo” what a piece of C….. It looks to me like they are trying to imitate SExclusivo, but with no luck. We;ll I guess Wapa have no problem with that. We should have Joan Rivers in Wapa and let see who is going to stop her. About the children I guess they are lucky if they are able to get to adulthood. Another child die and they are should solidarity with the father who left him in the car, but they cut a great deal with the doctor that left her son sofocate in the car so they are going to have to cut a deal with this one. In my book one neglect child is more than enough. To me that is not a tragedy is NEGLECT AND THAT SHOULD BE PUNISHABLE……..
Any Show that calls any one a monkey should be off the air period. People are entitled to dignity and abuse from anyone is not free speech it is abuse