Carlos Bardem calls Vox voters 'fascists' on Spanish public TV, sparking outrage
Actor Carlos Bardem called Vox voters 'fascists' live on Spain's public broadcaster TVE, reigniting the debate over civil-war rhetoric and insults on public television.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Carlos Bardem calls Vox voters 'fascists' on TVE and stokes civil-war rhetoric
Actor Carlos Bardem called Vox voters 'fascists' live on TVE's programme Malas Lenguas Noche on 17 October, as shown by the reaction on social media to the tweet from @Voxemita Enfurecido. The backlash was swift: from 'the dumb brother' to 'the textbook crony', public debate filled up with name-calling. But what matters, according to several participants, is not the insult but the framework: a public broadcaster paid for by everyone serving as a megaphone for the vilification of half of Spain. The episode reopens the old question: who legitimises a 'fat-cat from a bourgeois family' to lecture others on democracy?
'Fascist' as a catch-all insult
The word fascist has lost all meaning, according to several messages. On the show, Bardem used it to refer to Vox voters, a party that several analyses place at the opposite end of the spectrum from fascism. The discussion drifted towards the concept of hate speech: some argue that calling a group fascist does not incite violence, while others claim it seeks to polarise and create confrontation. The line between opinion and verbal aggression is blurry, and the penal code is no help. Meanwhile, on the social network Bluesky the applause multiplied, according to one user, and on TVE the show aired without restrictions.
From the eyebrow to the ditch
The Bardem name carries a history of subsidies and privileges, as recalled in the debate. His father made films under the fascist regime, the debate recalls, and the family has lived off state-subsidised cinema. Carlos himself is a mediocre actor who, without the surname, would not get a single job, according to several messages. The anecdote is telling: his vvife, Cecilia Gessa, was a porn actress under the name Celia Blanco, and now cleans up her past with minor film awards, according to the thread. The Bardem clan is the perfect example of the caviar left: posh people who have never done a hard day's work lecturing others on sarracena, according to several participants.
The calculation nobody dares to make
While people get tangled up in insults, one figure is circulating: with PP and Vox together holding 210 seats, constitutional reforms would be possible and the Senate's obstruction would be neutralised. Corruption in Sánchez's circle and the socialist MPs who are major landlords complete the picture, according to the thread. The wind is blowing in favour of the right, and that is why the nerves, according to one user. The question is whether this kind of spectacle on TVE mobilises or demobilises voters. The answer, as always, at the ballot box.
In the end, the usual story: a state-subsidised actor calling half of Spain fascist on public television, and a crowd of applauding trinc on social media. Is this democracy or something else?
Actor Carlos Bardem called Vox voters 'fascists' live on TVE's programme Malas Lenguas Noche on 17 October, as shown by the reaction on social media to the tweet from @Voxemita Enfurecido. The backlash was swift: from 'the dumb brother' to 'the textbook crony', public debate filled up with name-calling. But what matters, according to several participants, is not the insult but the framework: a public broadcaster paid for by everyone serving as a megaphone for the vilification of half of Spain. The episode reopens the old question: who legitimises a 'fat-cat from a bourgeois family' to lecture others on democracy?
'Fascist' as a catch-all insult
The word fascist has lost all meaning, according to several messages. On the show, Bardem used it to refer to Vox voters, a party that several analyses place at the opposite end of the spectrum from fascism. The discussion drifted towards the concept of hate speech: some argue that calling a group fascist does not incite violence, while others claim it seeks to polarise and create confrontation. The line between opinion and verbal aggression is blurry, and the penal code is no help. Meanwhile, on the social network Bluesky the applause multiplied, according to one user, and on TVE the show aired without restrictions.
From the eyebrow to the ditch
The Bardem name carries a history of subsidies and privileges, as recalled in the debate. His father made films under the fascist regime, the debate recalls, and the family has lived off state-subsidised cinema. Carlos himself is a mediocre actor who, without the surname, would not get a single job, according to several messages. The anecdote is telling: his vvife, Cecilia Gessa, was a porn actress under the name Celia Blanco, and now cleans up her past with minor film awards, according to the thread. The Bardem clan is the perfect example of the caviar left: posh people who have never done a hard day's work lecturing others on sarracena, according to several participants.
The calculation nobody dares to make
While people get tangled up in insults, one figure is circulating: with PP and Vox together holding 210 seats, constitutional reforms would be possible and the Senate's obstruction would be neutralised. Corruption in Sánchez's circle and the socialist MPs who are major landlords complete the picture, according to the thread. The wind is blowing in favour of the right, and that is why the nerves, according to one user. The question is whether this kind of spectacle on TVE mobilises or demobilises voters. The answer, as always, at the ballot box.
In the end, the usual story: a state-subsidised actor calling half of Spain fascist on public television, and a crowd of applauding trinc on social media. Is this democracy or something else?
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (168 replies).
More summaries
-
Carlos Bardem claims 25% of young men are fascists
Actor Carlos Bardem states that a quarter of young Spanish men hold fascist views, sparking debate over public funding for the award ceremony.
-
Eviction Spotlight Shifts to Paquita, 83, in Madrid
The eviction of Paquita, 83, once again puts the spotlight on Madrid, with some comments suggesting other cases involving elderly women.
-
Sánchez proposes ending social media anonymity at Davos
At Davos, Spanish PM Sánchez suggested the EU mandate linking accounts to digital IDs, sparking debate on privacy and free speech.
-
Only 37% of Households Have Savings Exceeding €15,000
63% of Spanish households hold less than €15,000 in accounts and deposits, with half holding less than €8,000. Why the average of €55,300 is misleading
-
20 cars stop on a road to watch a mongoose fight a rattlesnake
A viral tweet claims that a mongoose's reflexes, under 50 milliseconds, make a snake's attack look like slow motion. We explain how much truth there is to it.
-
Matilde, Micaela and Constanza: the names that divide opinion
Matilde, Micaela, Constanza or Marta: choosing the most beautiful female name depends more on memories than on how it sounds, according to participants in the thread.