Quequé out at Spain's Cadena Ser: the joke that cost him the job

Quequé out at the Ser: the limits of humour in a tragedy

Last month, comedian Héctor de Miguel, known as Quequé, left Cadena Ser after a controversial joke about the Adamuz train crash, which left 45 dead. The management of Hora Veintipico, the show he worked on, decided to drop him after he aired a sketch in which, parodying journalist Nacho Abad, he showed vultures feeding on a corpse with the caption "where 2 eat, 3 eat". The reaction was swift: accusations of bad taste, disrespect for the victims, and a debate over the limits of political satire.

Cadena Ser, part of Grupo Prisa, took less than 24 hours to announce that Quequé was "voluntarily leaving" the show. However, leaks suggest it was a forced exit: executives felt the joke crossed a red line. It is not the first time a comedian has paid dearly for going too far, but in this case the political context complicates everything.

The Adamuz crash and the political use of tragedy

On 31 July 2024, an Alvia train derailed in Adamuz (Córdoba), causing 45 deaths. The crisis management by Transport Minister Óscar Puente and the head of ADIF (Spain's railway infrastructure operator) drew harsh criticism. Quequé, known for his affinity with Sánchez's government, decided to make a joke about the media "vultures" who, in his view, were taking advantage of the tragedy. The metaphor, apparently aimed at the media, was interpreted as a direct mockery of the victims.

"The vultures are the journalists and parties exploiting the tragedy," some of his supporters argued. But for most people, including the Ser's management, the image of a corpse devoured by scavenger birds was simply unbearable while the bodies were still warm.

The paradox of a pro-government comedian fired by a sympathetic radio station

There is irony in the situation: Quequé was a staunch defender of Sánchez's government and had attacked the opposition and critical media. His show Hora Veintipico was known for left-leaning humour, and the Ser's own director, Javier del Pino, had tolerated his excesses. But this time the cost of keeping him on air outweighed the benefit. Pressure from advertisers and audiences, combined with the risk of tying the brand to a lack of sensitivity, led to a quick decision.

Some analysts see this move as a containment strategy: in an election year, Prisa cannot afford the damage of defending the indefensible. Others point out that Quequé's real problem was not the joke, but the accumulation of controversies. What is certain is that his departure leaves a gap in the schedule that, according to rumours, could be filled by fellow comedian David Broncano, whom Quequé had previously imitated.

An open ending

Quequé has announced on social media that he will continue his career "in other formats", but has given no details. Meanwhile, the Ser is trying to divert attention towards its summer schedule. The question that remains is whether political humour has limits, or whether, as in this case, the market imposes them. For now, 45 families are in no mood to laugh.