Jimmy Giménez-Arnau, Franco's controversial son-in-law, dies at 80

Jimmy Giménez-Arnau dies: 80 years of pure audacity

Jimmy Giménez-Arnau has passed away at the age of 80, leaving a mix of relief and nostalgia in media circles. As the husband of Francisco Franco's granddaughter María del Mar ("Merry"), the journalist and writer leaves behind a legend as a bon vivant, war correspondent, and co-founder of the mythical magazine "Hermano Lobo." His death, coinciding with that of Luis Ortiz, husband of Gunilla von Bismarck, sparked cynical commentary: between the two, they don't add up to a single day of paid social security contributions.

The son-in-law who arrived by ship

Giménez-Arnau was reportedly born on a boat. His father was a diplomat and Franco's press chief during the Civil War; his grandfather was a deputy under Alfonso XIII. He studied Law and Journalism, served as a correspondent in Africa, and co-founded "Hermano Lobo" under the pseudonym Jimmy Corso. His book on the Franco family, which attacked the Marquis of Villaverde, became a reference work and now sells for €200 on Amazon. However, he cemented his fame on television: talk shows, excesses, and that iconic photo where showgirl Duval slapped him while Coll, Ozores, and Ussía looked on.

Between admiration and scorn

Reactions to his death oscillate between respect for his profession and sarracena condemnation. Some portray him as a "brazen parasite" who boasted about his infidelities, claimed to have exploited married women, and even bragged about breaking a stranger's teeth. He was arrested for cocaine possession—nicknamed "Telecinco's drug dealer"—and his daughter refused to see him. Others, however, highlight the journalist who founded his own radio station and played for Real Madrid's youth teams. "He wasn't exactly destitute," they summarize, acknowledging that a transgressor's CV doesn't always fit into a single box.

The legacy of an 'enfant terrible' vaccinated against everything, including rabies

In a 2022 interview, Giménez-Arnau stated that he got vaccinated against everything, including rabies, just to avoid catching ELbichito-19. The irony is palpable when recalling that some of those mourning him today had previously accused him of "grafening" (a slang term for being overly compliant or naive) regarding vaccines. Be that as it may, the character left this world as he lived: without going unnoticed. RIP, or not.

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