Israel Dreyfus has refused to apologise to Sheyla Rojas following a television parody mocking the regional election defeat of her boyfriend, politician Joaquín Ramírez, in Cajamarca.
The Peruvian television presenter defended the comedy content produced on the entertainment programme Sin + Que Decir and rejected claims that the sketch constituted unfair mockery of his former partner.
The controversy began after Rojas publicly voiced her anger over a parody performed by Dreyfus and co-host Luciana Roy. The segment recreated scenes from the recent election campaign in northern Peru, including an electoral breakfast at a communal kitchen where Rojas accompanied Ramírez.
In a statement shared on social media, Rojas said she had accompanied her partner out of conviction and expressed disappointment over the broadcast. She wrote that she did not find it funny to be parodied, particularly by someone like Dreyfus whom she considered a friend, adding that it was his job to make fun of a woman.
Dreyfus Rejects Victimisation Claims
Dreyfus expressed surprise at the tone of the message and questioned whether Rojas had written the post herself. He suggested that a manager or social media representative might have drafted the statement, noting that her reaction contradicted her behaviour during previous comedy sketches.
The presenter challenged her assertion that he was targeting her because of her gender. He stated that taking aim at a male former partner was a familiar tactic to heighten a sense of victimisation, adding that the story would not have gained as much media traction had the dispute occurred between two women.
Addressing calls for a public apology, Dreyfus firmly ruled out retracting his comments or issuing an apology. He argued that an apology was unwarranted because Rojas had previously participated in lighthearted parodies without showing any signs of annoyance.
Previous Television Controversies and Background
Dreyfus contrasted the current situation with a past incident involving reality television personality Alejandra Baigorria. He explained that he had once chosen to issue a public apology to Baigorria without being prompted because he felt she was facing intense public scrutiny, but argued that doing so had created an expectation that anyone could demand a public apology from him.
Dreyfus and Rojas previously dated during the early years of their television careers before maintaining a friendly relationship. Both figures rose to prominence on popular Peruvian reality television shows, such as Combate, before transitioning into hosting and digital media roles in Peru.
Ramírez, a Peruvian politician and businessman, was contesting the regional elections in Cajamarca. The public appearances of Rojas alongside Ramírez during the campaign had drawn widespread media attention, with television commentators including Magaly Medina and Gigi Mitre offering sharp public criticism of their relationship during the race.
Dreyfus maintained that the show would continue its regular entertainment format, insisting that comedic parodies of public figures remain standard practice in television broadcasting.
