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Updated Friday, February 16, 2024-07:05

  • Fatphobia and lack of diversity in Dance As You Can? Norma Duval causes a very uncomfortable moment in the new RTVE program

Fatphobia or body diversity? It is the question that arose after the presentation this Tuesday of the new

talent

of La 1,

Dance as you can

. During the press conference, a reporter asked the network and the production company, Zeppelin, if they had thought about including "chubbier" dancers for the next edition. It was then that

Norma Duval

, jury of the contest, caused a tense and uncomfortable moment with one of the dancers.

The former star got up from her chair and went, without hesitation, to one of the dancers.

Norma Duval

took the young woman's hand and

asked her to stand up to show off her body

, which is slightly wider than that of some of her classmates.

Television

Presentation.

Fatphobia and lack of diversity in Dance As You Can? Norma Duval causes a very uncomfortable moment in the new RTVE program

  • Editorial: ANDREA M. ROSA DEL PINO Madrid

Fatphobia and lack of diversity in Dance As You Can? Norma Duval causes a very uncomfortable moment in the new RTVE program

At first, the young woman refused. But Norma Duval insisted. In an effort to demonstrate that

Miguel Martín

, the director of the production company, was right when he assured that the contestants had been chosen because of her talent, he wanted to give as an example a professional who was absolutely embarrassed.

"No, Norma, please, no

," Martín shouted at the media presenter in the middle of the presentation. But it was too late, the dancer had already gotten up.

"No Norma, please. No, don't let just one stand up. Everyone up, please

," ordered the head of Zeppelin, before the astonished look of

Anne Igartiburu

- who had also requested that the contestant not stand up. - and some of the stars, like

Maestro Joao

and

Fabiola Martínez

.

The more than 50 journalists present caused a murmur that made the dancers and VIPs uncomfortable

. But Miguel Martín tried to act as if nothing had happened. "This is proof that there is bodily diversity.

There are stronger ones, less strong ones, more such... There is everything!

" said the executive, while

the affected participant appeared saddened and dismayed

. She touched her belly, lowered her skirt and looked for support from her colleagues, who did show her that they are a team.

After the uncomfortable moment, the former star has spoken out through a statement on her social networks in which she regrets "the reading of the facts" and apologizes to the dancer:

"My intention was never to offend or hurt anyone."

.

Norma Duval

explains that she approached the dancers and "asked them to stand up" with the intention that "we would focus on the people in front of us who also represent a range of diversity."

"My wish is that they have an opportunity and that this does not affect their performance

," says the ex-vedette.

Furthermore,

Norma Duval

is "deeply grateful" that "sensitivities have changed" and that people now "are more aware of the lack of body diversity." "These debates enrich us as a society and allow us to continue moving forward," she continues.

Thus,

Norma Duval

tries to settle the controversy that arose by stating that she is sorry that it has been interpreted differently: "My respect for dance and for dancers is absolute."

During the uncomfortable moment experienced on Tuesday, the one who remained silent was fellow jury member

Rafa Méndez

. The well-known choreographer of

Fame

, who became famous for his harshness when speaking, his excessively critical and hurtful behavior and that remembered scene in which he kicked

Lola Índigo

out of a class. "

Mimi, get out! You're a hindrance to my vision. You're a four

," he shouted at her.

As EL MUNDO has learned, Méndez has not learned anything since his altercation, in 2010, with the fashionable singer and in this new

talent

he has once again shown his true face. A facet that led him to tell the same contestant who experienced the uncomfortable moment with

Norma Duval

that he does not have the body that a dancer should have. In one of the episodes,

recorded a few days ago

, the canary referred to the professional with a disqualifying adjective, which - of course - affected the sensitivity of the aforementioned,

who burst into tears

. Despite this, that will not be seen on television. It has been agreed that it will not be broadcast...

And it has already been deleted from the script

.