(Fotos: Instagram)
A Controversy Erupts: Rights Agency Responds to Laura Zapata’s Remarks
The Defensoría de los Derechos Humanos del Pueblo de Oaxaca (DDHPO) has announced its decision to file a formal complaint with the Consejo Nacional para Prevenir la Discriminación (Conapred) following the remarks made by actress Laura Zapata. Zapata’s comments were deemed classist and discriminatory toward indigenous communities, causing significant backlash.
In an official statement, this autonomous body expressed its firm rejection of Zapata’s statements, which included derogatory remarks aimed at Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico. The DDHPO pointed out that these comments serve to reinforce historical stereotypes that contribute to the exclusion and symbolic violence against indigenous peoples in Mexico.
The agency emphasized that any form of discrimination, whether direct or indirect and based on ethnic origin or skin color, is not just morally unacceptable but also legally sanctioned.
(Facebook)
The DDHPO underscored that the Mexican Constitution recognizes the country as a pluricultural nation with roots in its indigenous peoples. Therefore, promoting respect, inclusion, and the defense of their rights is paramount. The agency also clarified that such discriminatory expressions fall outside the bounds of freedom of speech, as they perpetuate disdain toward historically marginalized groups.
Zapata’s comments, made in light of Sheinbaum’s absence from an official G7 photograph, sparked widespread controversy. The actress criticized the president for traveling on commercial airlines, infamously stating, “She doesn’t feel up to par because that crazy man sold our presidential plane."
Additionally, she employed derogatory terms like “indita,” which ignited further outrage on social media. While Zapata attempted to justify her words in the face of criticism, many sectors highlighted how her remarks perpetuate prejudices and discrimination.
(X)
"As an indita, as a person without category, class, or presence," Zapata expressed in one of her programs. The DDHPO reiterated its commitment to seek action under the Federal Law to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination, emphasizing the importance of protecting the rights of indigenous peoples in Oaxaca and throughout the country.
Her words triggered criticism online, with many not hesitating to make the video go viral, showcasing opposition to discrimination despite Zapata’s attempt to clarify her intentions behind using such derogatory terms.
"I said ‘indita,’ yes. Not as an insult, but as a symbolic portrayal of a president who behaves as a second fiddle to the narcopresident who imposed her. Traveling on a commercial flight does not make you humble; it makes you irresponsible when you already hold the presidential sash. You put passengers at risk, and they celebrate it as a virtue. They raffled off the presidential plane. They delivered nothing. They kept the money. And now they travel as if Mexico doesn’t deserve altitude. Is that uncomfortable? Well, better get used to it: I say what others silence, and I’m not afraid of anyone. That wasn’t racism; that was the truth," Laura Zapata stated.