Jerome Sanabria denounces Culotauro for alleged harassment against a FARC victim after a controversy with a comedian

Jerome Sanabria, a 20-year-old political activist linked to the campaign team of incoming president Abelardo De La Espriella, has publicly accused comedian Camilo Díaz, known as Culotauro, of digitally harassing Deisy Dorelly, a woman who was forcibly recruited by the former FARC guerrilla group. The accusation came after a dispute involving another comedian, María Camila Fonseca, known as Macafolla, over comments made about the number of children affected by forced recruitment during the conflict. Sanabria filed her complaint with the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), which handles cases related to the armed conflict and its aftermath. The incident originated from a prior clash sparked by Fonseca’s remarks regarding statistics on minors recruited by the former FARC. A segment from Fonseca's digital format La Megacárcel, presented through her character Micky Ávila, a satirical caricature, and featuring Congresswoman Laura Daniela Beltrán Fonseca, known as Lalis, generated widespread controversy. The clip used dark humor to address a figure cited by the JEP: 18,677 children were victims of forced recruitment by the old guerrilla. This approach drew sharp criticism from political sectors and victim organizations, who argued that such expressions constituted a form of re-victimization. Supporters of Fonseca, however, contended that the material had been taken out of context or edited, emphasizing that Micky Ávila’s role is precisely to mock extremist or harmful societal discourse. Fonseca herself has previously highlighted this intent in interviews. Meanwhile, Sanabria’s allegations against Culotauro emerged following a public post on the social media platform X and a video shared online. In these materials, Sanabria claimed that Culotauro sent persistent private messages to Deisy Dorelly after she expressed her stance on Fonseca’s show. According to Sanabria and the visual content shared alongside her, Culotauro allegedly continued sending private Instagram messages despite Dorelly’s repeated requests for him to stop. Screenshots and voice notes released showed Dorelly asking Culotauro to cease what she described as harassment and re-victimization due to her status as a recognized victim under the JEP’s Macrocase 07. Additionally, footage revealed that Culotauro offered to buy promotional clothing that Dorelly independently produces, a gesture both she and Sanabria interpreted as mockery of her socioeconomic and personal situation. One message from Culotauro stated, “You really fill your pockets with that number.” Sanabria suggested that Culotauro’s behavior might have been influenced by coordination with other creators or public figures aligned with opposition groups. The accusations come amid heightened tensions among the individuals involved. Culotauro recently announced his decision to leave Colombia after reportedly facing threats to his physical safety, leading to the permanent closure of his digital project Por la ventana. As of now, Culotauro has not issued an official statement addressing the specific harassment claims raised by Sanabria and Dorelly beyond the private messages exchanged, which were disclosed in the screenshots. The case highlights ongoing debates around the ethical boundaries of satire and free expression, particularly when dealing with sensitive topics related to past conflicts and their victims. It also underscores the complex dynamics within Colombian society, where political affiliations often intersect with cultural production and public discourse. The JEP’s involvement adds a legal dimension to the issue, as it seeks to ensure justice for victims of the conflict while navigating the challenges posed by contemporary media practices. Deisy Dorelly’s experience as a victim of forced recruitment by the FARC is well documented, and her response to Culotauro’s actions reflects broader concerns about how public figures handle discussions surrounding trauma and historical violence. Her insistence that the comedian’s behavior constituted harassment aligns with calls from victim advocacy groups for greater sensitivity in media portrayals of such issues. The situation continues to unfold as legal and public scrutiny intensifies. Whether Culotauro will face formal charges or respond further to the allegations remains unclear, but the case has already drawn attention to the delicate balance between artistic freedom and respect for victims' rights.