An unfortunate comment in the world of humor
Recently, the world of humor has been shaken by an incident that has sparked an intense debate about the limits of speech in the media. Comedian Joel Díaz Braña made a comment during the ‘La sotana’ podcast that has been interpreted as incitement to hatred. The Government of Catalonia has decided to submit a formal complaint to the Audiovisual Council of Catalonia (CAC) for this situation.
The context of the controversy
On September 30, in an episode of his program, Díaz made a pun on the name of Violant, daughter of the mayoress of Ripoll, Sílvia Orriols. The comment, which sought humor through ambiguity, was rejected by many, who considered it in poor taste and potentially dangerous.
Immediate reaction
The reaction of Sílvia Orriols and other members of Aliança Catalana was not long in coming. Through social media, Orriols accused Díaz of inciting the rape and expressed her outrage forcefully, threatening consequences for what she considered an unacceptable attack.
The Government’s response
Faced with the intensification of criticism and public discussion, the Secretary of Media and Broadcasting, Carlos Escolà, requested the CAC to review the content of Díaz’s comment. In his communication, he argued that the comments were contrary to the values of respect and tolerance expected in the media, and that they could foster a climate of social division.
The role of public media
Escolà emphasized that Díaz’s collaboration with public media such as Catalunya Ràdio increases its responsibility in disseminating content that respects the dignity and rights of the most vulnerable, especially minors.
Catalan Alliance demands
In the last general policy debate in Parliament, Aliança Catalana took the opportunity to call for forceful actions against Díaz, demanding the termination of contracts with the Catalan Audiovisual Media Corporation and a public apology from ‘La sotana’.
Historical precedents
This incident is not an isolated case. In January 2023, Díaz had also left the program ‘Zona Franca’ after another controversy related to a gag that was considered excessive, which led to the dismissal of another comedian, Manel Vidal. These precedents hint at a climate of growing sensitivity in the world of humor and politics.
Reflections on humor and responsibility
What has happened with Joel Díaz’s comment raises important questions about the responsibility of comedians and the limits of what can be said in a public context. The situation reminds us that despite the humorous intent, words can have a deep and lasting impact on society.
