During the 1970s and 80s, Televisa dominated Mexican television, launching numerous figures to international stardom. Among the most notable was Lucía Méndez, an actress and singer whose career was persistently surrounded by rumors of a personal relationship with the network’s powerful owner, Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, known as ‘El Tigre’.
Méndez’s rapid ascent as a leading telenovela star and musical artist fueled speculation about the reasons for her success. Azcárraga was known for giving preferential treatment to a select group of favored actresses, offering them exclusive contracts and high-profile roles. While both Méndez and Azcárraga denied any romantic involvement for years, other contemporaries like Verónica Castro later acknowledged that ‘El Tigre’ often favored his preferred stars.
In recent interviews, Méndez has finally confirmed that she had a brief romance with the executive. She described their connection as flirtatious but respectful, characterized by mutual attraction that never evolved into a formal relationship. According to Méndez, factors such as the age difference, Azcárraga’s powerful position, and the professional setting kept the affair discreet, with no photographic evidence to document it.
Despite her proximity to Azcárraga, Méndez’s privileged position eventually ended. In the early 1990s, she received an offer to star in a telenovela for the U.S. network Telemundo. After consulting with Azcárraga, who she claims initially approved the move, Méndez accepted the role. However, the decision resulted in her being blacklisted by Televisa, forcing her to focus on her career as a singer and entrepreneur.
Decades later, the subject has re-entered public discourse due to the HBO Max biographical series, “Chespirito: Sin querer queriendo,” which chronicles the life of Mexican television icon Roberto Gómez Bolaños. The show, which has become the platform’s most-watched series in the region, directly addresses the romance between Méndez and Azcárraga. This depiction of one of Mexican entertainment’s most guarded secrets has generated significant buzz and controversy.
In the series, Méndez is portrayed by Peruvian actress Hany Portocarrero, who appears in the sixth and seventh episodes. Portocarrero, known for her work in telenovelas like “La mujer de nadie,” has been praised for her physical resemblance to Méndez and for capturing her presence without falling into parody.
The on-screen dramatization has revived a long-dormant chapter of television history, prompting new discussions about the complex interplay of power, personal relationships, and professional careers in the entertainment industry of that era. The series underscores the lasting impact of iconic figures like Lucía Méndez on Latin American popular culture.
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