“I have 5 extra kilos”: this is how Roy Barreras defended himself against the controversy for mocking the weight of a journalist

A whole controversy took over social media because of some unfortunate statements delivered by Senator-elect of the Historical Pact, Roy Barreras, on the body weight of Semana magazine journalist, Jairo Lozano.

It turns out that this Tuesday, April 19, the congressman was in a tense debate with the Senator of the Democratic Center, María Fernanda Cabal. The two parliamentarians faced the controversy of social forgiveness and the visit of Juan Fernando Petro, brother of Gustavo Petro, to La Picota prison.

Jairo Lozano questioned Barreras about the visit of the brother of the presidential candidate of the Historical Pact to the penitentiary in southern Bogotá. That comment, it seems, did not like the senator at all, who greeted him by saying that he was supposedly overweight.

“First, I greet you. You have gained weight, take care of yourself a little because being overweight can cause heart attacks,” said Roy Barreras.

The comment was immediately disproved by Lozano, who scolded the congressman for his constant hints to both him and his boss, Vicky Davila.

Netizens quickly took it up on Twitter against the congressman and left him vehement questions. “To my colleague, the journalist Jairo Lozano, only my love and respect. I know you're a great person and a very noble person. Many of us were hurt by the low attack he suffered today by Senator Roy Barreras. I'm really sorry about what happened and I reject it. Respect the press please,” said Vicky Davila on her Twitter account.

Similar to that there were several criticisms against Barreras that forced him to speak out. However, he made new sarcastic comments on the subject, acknowledged that he too was overweight and even joked, again, with the alleged medical recommendation he made to the Semana panelist.

“I have 5 extra kilos. I thank those who encourage me to exercise. I'm going to take them down with the trot of this winning campaign. You can lose weight! Look at Duque, Fico's head of debate, lost weight at the same speed as he dropped in the polls!” , wrote the congressman in response to another Twitter user who scolded him.

What is more, he even engaged in a crossing of opinions with the journalist of La FM radio station, Santiago Ángel, who described Barreras' criticism of Jairo Lozano as “cowardly”. “What is it cowardly about having a head-on opinion and attending a debate in a hostile environment and facing the far right that feels at home? Which comment are you referring to? I was just nice to that journalist and Vicky. You mean the change of hairstyle or “look”? There is no offense in that!” , he wrote.

Although most of the comments against the bishop petrista were comments, there was no shortage of netizens who advised Barreras not to go to Semana because, supposedly, they are “trenches of prepaid media to be ambushed,” said a Twitter user identified as Julián; comment that Barreras also responded:

Finally, other citizens continued to question the congressman, who ultimately did not apologize for his criticism of journalist Jairo Lozano. “Only voices of support for Mr. Journalist Jairo Lozano. Great professional being and better human being”, “Senator @RoyBarreras, your comments about journalist Jairo Lozano are cowardly. It is your presidential candidate who has said that there should be attacks on arguments and not on people,” were other questions read on social networks.

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