Peruvian television presenter Rebeca Escribens has offered a live on-air apology to cumbia singer Christian Domínguez after calling him an eyesore during a recent broadcast of morning show América Hoy.
Speaking on a subsequent broadcast after video clips of the incident went viral, Escribens admitted that her remarks were excessive and stated that watching her own behavior filled her with disgust and shame.
Escribens acknowledged that while she personally dislikes the musician, disliking someone's conduct does not give her the right to insult them on national television. She offered a thousand apologies to Domínguez and asked to leave the confrontation behind.
Controversial exchange on América Hoy set
The controversy began during a live episode of América Hoy, when Domínguez visited the studio to perform alongside his musical group, Gran Orquesta Internacional. In the middle of a singing segment, co-host Janet Barboza joked about the possibility of Domínguez returning to work as a program presenter, which prompted an immediate reaction from Escribens.
Taking the microphone, Escribens openly questioned the singer's participation in the show. She stated that although she does not like Domínguez, she knows his parents well and has worked with his niece, whom she praised as a better person than him.
Escribens went on to ask why Domínguez had turned out to be such an eyesore despite his family background. She inquired whether he was the youngest child and mockingly suggested he might have fallen out of his cradle as a baby, while noting that his mother doted on him and his father reminded her of her own father.
Domínguez responded to the remarks with humor during the segment. Rather than expressing anger, he highlighted his close family ties, stating that he tried to be the best son in the world and gave himself completely to his family.
Social media backlash and television apology
Rebeca Escribens is a long-standing figure on Peruvian television, widely known for hosting entertainment and show-business segments on América Televisión. América Hoy is a popular morning magazine program broadcast in Peru that combines celebrity news, musical guest appearances, and comedy sketches.
Christian Domínguez is one of Peru's most prominent cumbia singers and a frequent subject of national entertainment reporting. Cumbia is a widely celebrated tropical music genre across Peru, and Domínguez leads Gran Orquesta Internacional, a group that performs regularly on nationwide broadcasts.
After video excerpts of the broadcast spread rapidly across platforms such as TikTok, viewers voiced divided opinions regarding Escribens' conduct. Facing public criticism, Escribens used her television platform to address Domínguez directly and express regret.
Escribens stated that seeing herself in the circulating clips made her feel repulsed and embarrassed, leading her to insult herself on air. She reiterated that disliking certain behaviors of Domínguez's was no justification for calling him an eyesore.
During her statement, Escribens also addressed Domínguez's relationship with media personality Karla Tarazona. She observed that Tarazona was an adult who understood her own choices, adding that if the couple was happy living their lives that way, it was entirely their decision.
Closing her message, Escribens invited Domínguez to move past the controversy and expressed openness to the possibility of collaborating with him on future television projects.
