HBO Max's Chespirito Series Triggers Movement to Tear Down Florinda Meza Statue in Mexico

The HBO Max biopic "Chespirito: Sin querer queriendo" has sparked intense backlash in Mexico after portraying Roberto Gómez Bolaños' relationship with Florinda Meza as an affair that broke up his first marriage, prompting angry protesters to demand the removal of a statue honoring Meza in her hometown.

On July 24, the day HBO Max released the final episode of the bioseries, a group gathered in Juchipila's main plaza with the intention of removing the statue.

The backlash stems from revelations made in the series, where Chespirito's romantic relationship with Meza is portrayed as an infidelity that damaged his first marriage. In one flashpoint scene, Meza's character refers to Gómez Bolaños' children and ex-wife as "seven defects," invoking intense criticism from fans and local townspeople alike.

This depiction reignited decades-old debates about Meza's personal life, amplified by the decision to depict intimate betrayals in a highly public way. Social media exploded with outrage, and residents launched a viral Facebook event titled "Todos a quitar la escultura de la vergüenza" (the sculpture of shame,)attended by thousands more than originally expected.

Police step in to protect artwork

Despite fewer protesters turning out than anticipated, local police intervened to guard the 2019 sculpture created by artist Víctor Hugo Yañez Piña—which has since been dubbed the "sculpture of shame" by opponents, preventing any vandalism or forced removal on site.

The municipal government swiftly condemned the event, labeling it as an incitement to hate, incivility, and destruction of public art. Local civic groups emphasized that the statue was initially installed to honor Meza's career, not her personal history—and remains protected under local cultural heritage rules.

Artist Víctor Hugo Yañez Piña, a hyperrealist sculptor, defended the statue in comments to De Primera Mano. He highlighted that Meza personally supervised details of the 2019 artwork, which took 90 days to complete and stands life‑sized at roughly 5 feet 7 inches. Yañez Piña insisted the work is a tribute to her on‑screen legacy, not her private life and that removal decisions lie with municipal authorities, not netizens.

Meza responds amid 'cancelation'

Though Meza has not initiated legal action, she released a statement calling the series "lies at its MAXimum expression." The 76-year-old actress noted that older interviews were pulled from context and resurfaced as ammunition against her character. She emphasized that her image and narrative belong to her alone, and that she may release her own version of events in the future.

In response to growing public scrutiny, Meza is preparing a personal documentary titled Atrévete a vivir, which she describes as a raw exploration of her life, from childhood and hardship to her rise in Televisa, her romance with Gómez Bolaños, and the emotional aftermath of his death. The film includes previously unseen footage and interviews to "tell her side of the story," though it is not framed as a direct rebuttal to the HBO series.

Activists like Emilia Pesci have decried the campaign as misogyny disguised as entertainment, arguing that it reflects a dangerous societal trend: shaming women for aging, asserting their voice, or being held to different moral standards than men.