Mexican actress Florinda Meza has returned to social media, firing back at rumors about her health and criticizing how she is portrayed in HBO's new biographical series Chespirito: Sin Querer Queriendo.
In the series, Meza's character is renamed Margarita Ruíz and portrayed by actress Bárbara López, a move reportedly made to avoid legal issues after Meza refused to authorize the use of her name and likeness. Meza, famously known for playing Doña Florinda in El Chavo del Ocho, had a decades-long relationship with Roberto Gómez Bolaños, "Chespirito," which began as an extramarital affair and later became both romantic and professional.
The first episodes of the series depict how that controversial relationship allegedly started, sparking immediate backlash and online criticism against Meza. Many fans argue that the portrayal is damaging and misleading.
Producers of the HBO series, including Chespirito's son, Roberto Gómez Fernández, claim the storyline accurately reflects reality. However, Meza strongly disputes that. On social media, she stated, "Things did not happen like that," specifically referring to the depiction of how Bolaños' marriage to his first wife, Graciela Fernández, ended and how his relationship with Meza began.
A close friend of the actress told the Mexican press that Meza feels devastated by what she calls a "distortion of the story." The source added that the 75-year-old actress has been struggling with anxiety and depression, exacerbated by online harassment following the series' release.
Meza, who has fiercely protected Chespirito's legacy since his death in 2014, is now at the center of a renewed public controversy over how their personal history is being rewritten for television.
Florinda Meza's response
Chespirito's widow, however, seemed uncomfortable with her friend's statements and decided to respond to her very sarcastic style with a carousel of photos from New York, published on her Instagram account and to the rhythm of the iconic version of New York, New York , by the great American balladeers Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.
"For those who are concerned about my health... Cheers!" wrote Florinda Meza, looking radiant and elegantly dressed, as she usually does. At 76, the artist and television producer looks as beautiful as ever.
The 'Chespirito' series
Just because you're in the Big Apple doesn't mean you'll miss out on new episodes of the series, as HBO has also released it for American audiences. Each new episode airs on Thursdays.
