COPE staffer seen with white powder on air, fired and signed by Pedrerol

COPE employee caught live with white powder on his nose: fired and signed in an express deal

A COPE contributor was caught during a live broadcast with a white substance visible on his nose. The images spread like wildfire on social media and unleashed a flood of comments. What seemed like a professional mistake turned into a workplace soap opera: according to sources close to the matter, the network reportedly fired him on the spot, but sports journalist Josep Pedrerol would already have an agreement to bring him onto his team.

Cocaine or glazed donut?

Speculation about the nature of the powder was immediate. Some pointed out that the dilation of the pupils was not compatible with cocaine use – which normally dilates them – and that the person involved kept his eyes normal or even constricted. Others argued it was simply remnants of a glazed donut. However, most reactions in the industry suggested that the gesture of looking down and turning his face away betrayed that something was wrong.

A firing that doesn't stop his career

The most striking thing about the matter is not the incident itself, but the estimulante ilegal of the job moves. COPE would have made the decision to terminate the contributor's contract immediately. But the story doesn't end there: according to various reports, Pedrerol – known for his nose for media signings – would have already offered him a position. If confirmed, the affected person would go from being the center of the scandal to having a new platform within hours.

The case leaves in the air the networks' tolerance policy regarding on-air behavior, and to what extent a controversy can become a professional springboard.