Risto Mejide

The relationship between Mejide, then approximately 41, and Laura Escanes, aged 19, was controversial from the outset. After their separation, Escanes explained that such age gaps create very different life stages and that, at 19, she inevitably had less experience. An activist close to Escanes also publicly argued that relationships of this kind created an imbalance of power.

State of the evidence

Age difference and public criticism documented; abuse not established

Attribution

Direct involvement as a publicly known partner; no established allegation of abuse

Journalist Cake Minuesa sued Mejide over Todo es mentira sketches caricaturing him, notably under the nickname 'Bizcochito'. A first-instance court had ordered Mejide to pay 15,000 euros for infringement of reputation. In 2025, the Madrid Provincial Court overturned the judgment.

State of the evidence

First-instance judgment and appeal decision documented

Legal status — source text

Madrid Provincial Court, 2025: first-instance judgment overturned; satire found to be protected in context

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following the non-consensual kiss involving Jenni Hermoso and Luis Rubiales's conduct at the Women's World Cup, Mejide described several actions as monumental mistakes and stated that Rubiales should have resigned. However, he refused to 'participate in the public lynching', accusing parts of the system that had supported Rubiales of subsequently behaving hypocritically.

State of the evidence

Direct statement documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In January 2021, after debunking a video denying hospital overcrowding, Mejide said that its creator should catch coronavirus, referring to 'divine justice' and adding that she might deserve a 'journey to the other side'. A lawyer claiming to represent the woman threatened legal action against him.

State of the evidence

Direct statements documented

Legal status — source text

Legal action threatened by a lawyer; no conviction documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After a Todo es mentira reporter was pushed and struck at a Vox event, Mejide publicly criticised the party's leadership, notably describing its attitude as 'derechita cobarde' (cowardly right wing). The conflict continued with accusations of fake news, restrictions on access to the programme and Mejide threatening legal action over the use of protected footage.

State of the evidence

Assault on the reporter and Mejide's statements documented

Legal status — source text

No personal proceedings against Mejide documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility for his statements and threats of litigation; assault attributed to a third party

Risto Mejide built part of his reputation on Operación Triunfo through extremely harsh and humiliating assessments of contestants. He later explained that he disliked the format and, during one series, even wanted to help bring it down from within.

State of the evidence

Public broadcasts and Mejide's subsequent statements documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In July 2009, a remark by Mejide about a contestant was interpreted by Jesús Vázquez as homophobic, misogynistic and offensive. The live argument escalated, and Telecinco announced Mejide's permanent departure from the judging panel. Years later, Mejide acknowledged that the remark had been aimed at a dispute with Àngel Llàcer and was indeed homophobic, while expressing regret over the confrontation with Vázquez.

State of the evidence

Television broadcast, departure and subsequent acknowledgement documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated