Peruvian race car driver Mario Hart has admitted he would have joined reality television personalities Said Palao and Mario Irivarren on a controversial yacht gathering in Argentina if he had received an invitation.
Speaking during an appearance on the digital show Tampocotampodcast, Hart acknowledged that if television cameras had caught him at the private event, his only option would have been to publicly apologize.
The television presenter, who hosts the program Sin mas que decir, addressed the hypothetical situation during a conversation with former Peruvian politician Kenji Fujimori. When asked how he would respond if caught on camera during such an outing, the former Combate team captain stated that once recorded images exist, a person simply has to ask for forgiveness.
Hart made the comments during a period of change in his personal life, as he is currently separated from his wife, model Korina Rivadeneira. His statements have renewed public attention surrounding the trip taken to South America by the two reality figures.
The Argentine Yacht Party Scandal
Palao and Irivarren were recorded attending a private gathering aboard a rented yacht in the Tigre Delta, a scenic river region located near Buenos Aires, Argentina. Video footage of the outing was broadcast on the entertainment show Magaly TV la firme, a Peruvian program known for investigative reports on public figures.
According to the broadcast, the two stars of the physical competition series Esto es Guerra hired the vessel for an exclusive gathering alongside models and other invited female guests. Recorded footage showed attendees dancing and consuming alcoholic beverages on board during the trip.
The television cameras specifically recorded Irivarren kissing one of the young women at the gathering before diving into the river. At the time of the event, both participants were in high profile romantic relationships, with Palao dating television personality Alejandra Baigorria and Irivarren dating model Onelia Molina.
Background and Reality Television Connections
The scandal sparked widespread reaction in Peru due to the celebrity status of the individuals involved. Hart, Palao, and Irivarren have all built prominent careers on Peruvian television through popular competitive reality programs.
Hart gained national prominence as the historic captain of the green team on Combate, a long running physical competition show broadcast on ATV. Palao and Irivarren currently feature as regular competitors on Esto es Guerra, a major reality series produced by America Television.
In Peruvian media, video exposes produced by investigative entertainment outlets such as Magaly TV la firme are commonly referred to as ampays. Despite the intense public interest generated by the footage, Hart indicated during his podcast interview that he would have gladly joined the Argentine excursion had he been invited.
