Peruvian television host Gisela Valcárcel has confirmed she will not host the Teletón 2026 charity event scheduled for September 11 and 12, stating that both she and her daughter Ethel Pozo were vetoed from participating.
Valcárcel described the decision to exclude them from the annual benefit broadcast as an act of retaliation by commercial television network América Televisión.
Speaking on the podcast Sin más que decir on Friday, August 28, the presenter revealed her absence while making a monetary donation to the charity campaign, reaffirming her support for the cause despite her removal from the broadcast lineup.
Valcárcel explained that on Saturday, August 8, she met with the director of Teletón Perú and learned that organizers did not want her daughter, presenter Ethel Pozo, to take part in the event. In the days following that meeting, Valcárcel said she realized that network management had barred both women from appearing on the broadcast.
She stated that subsequent conversations confirmed she and Pozo had become unwanted figures at the network. Valcárcel added that she had not initially received a direct invitation to host, but the event director had attempted to include her before network executives stepped in.
Prior to the dispute, Valcárcel had traveled to Miami to meet with veteran broadcaster Don Francisco and representatives of the international Teletón franchise. The meeting aimed to develop new production ideas to support the upcoming broadcast.
Reflecting on the organization, Valcárcel said that Teletón should serve as a unifying cause for all Peruvians, noting that she and fellow participants have seen firsthand how donated funds are used to help children in need.
Background to the charity broadcast
Valcárcel, widely known in Peru by the nickname La Señito, is a veteran television presenter who no longer works for América Televisión. She stated that she had previously set aside personal differences with Fernando Muñiz, the chief executive officer of the network, in order to host the charity event on behalf of the beneficiaries.
Teletón Perú is an annual television fundraising campaign that collects donations to fund medical treatment and rehabilitation programs for children with disabilities across Peru.
Conditions for media meeting
The announcement follows recent public statements by Valcárcel regarding a potential meeting with fellow Peruvian television host Magaly Medina. Valcárcel stated she would agree to appear alongside Medina only under specific conditions, requiring the meeting to take place at her residence and be broadcast on her personal streaming platform.
Message to broadcast hosts
Valcárcel noted that she had initially intended to keep her exclusion quiet for the good of the charity effort. However, she chose to speak publicly after Pozo decided to release her own account of the decision.
Addressing the main anchors selected to host Teletón 2026, Valcárcel urged them to carry out an extraordinary broadcast for the public. She expressed confidence that Peruvians would support the cause and said she hoped the resolution of the conflict would ultimately benefit the children relying on the event.
