“I receive the call to attention with great respect”: Roy Barreras and his particular apology for inappropriate comment to journalist

On April 19, Senator Roy Barreras was involved in a controversy after he attacked journalist Jairo Lozano. During a debate with Senator María Fernanda Cabal, the politician referred to the communicator's physical appearance. In a talk with W Radio, he offered excuses for what happened. He assured that he had no problem accepting criticism of his behavior and that he had no problem taking his blame to apologize to those affected by his statements.

“He's gained weight. Take care of yourself a little, because being overweight can cause heart attacks and if that adds to anger (...),” said the senator, wanting to answer one of the questions posed by Lozano in which he questioned him because of Gustavo Petro's controversial expression of 'social forgiveness' and the contradiction of the presidential candidate regarding the proposal of a reduction of sentences for prisoners. Lozano wanted to know the reasons why he denied that the aspiring head of state had already referred to the issue of prisons before.

“I take good care of myself, and I also take care of people who send 'hints' every single thing. Keep that in mind. Believe me that I experience this every day,” the journalist replied to what the senator said.

“I receive the call to attention with great respect (...) I have no qualms about offering my apologies to those who have been referred to,” Barreras said to the station, which questioned him because of the comment against the journalist and his appearance. The senator said that the situation of overweight really worries him, even, he detailed that people around him, and himself, live under those physical characteristics.

“At the request or suggestion of journalists whom Mónica Rodríguez, Johana Fuentes, Yesid Lancheros, Juan Pablo Calvas, Alejandro Villegas and Santiago Ángel respect, I have no hesitation in offering excuses to his colleague Jairo Lozano for a personal comment on his weight yesterday in the heat of a debate,” the senator added to his apology on social networks.

The senator had already been regretting his comments. It was a few hours ago when he answered the trills of the aforementioned journalists, who questioned him how he acted. “Your comment is really embarrassing. The question was asked in a respectful manner. If you felt it “hostile”, NOTHING justifies your comment. A total lowness. I could just answer or not,” questioned Monica Rodríguez, presenter of the Canal One news program.

“Dear Monica, the comment of a courageous journalist committed to life and peace obliges me to reflect and causes me just pain. I have no qualms thanks to your comment on offering public excuses for the personal reference to journalist Jairo Lozano,” Roy Barreras replied.

Santiago Ángel, for his part, assured that the comments about the journalist Jairo were proof of Barreras's' cowardice '. He recalled that in this type of meeting, what is supposed to be done is to discuss short-term issues under the support of weighty arguments, and not with attacks on the appearance of the other parts of the discussion.

“What is it cowardly about having a head-on opinion and attending a debate in a hostile environment and confronting the far right that feels at home? Which comment are you referring to? I was just nice to that journalist and Vicky. Are you referring to the change of hairstyle or “look”? There is no offense in that,” Barrera defended himself before publicly apologizing to Lozano.

“If you are going to give medical advice about people's health status based on body sizes and weights, it is better that you, with medical judgment, worry in your own campaign, Senator. No one asked him to give his opinion on the weight of a journalist. He did it to attack him,” Angel added.

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