Last October, a provocative sketch featuring comedian Dani Mateo sparked a heated debate that still echoes today. The act, which touched on Spain’s flag, drew sharp criticism from many Spaniards and led to legal action, with Mateo accused of performing a joke that mocked national symbols. The incident lingered for years as a focal point in conversations about freedom of expression and public perception of the flag as a symbol of unity.
Five years later, Mateo revisited the controversy in an interview for the MC show, speaking candidly about the episode and its fallout. He reflected on the emotional toll it took and acknowledged how the dialogue around the flag had shifted since then. During the conversation, he addressed an incident in which a local council replaced a rainbow flag with a national flag in a Leonese municipality, discussing the broader themes of symbolism and public identity.
Mateo described the circumstances around the sketch, noting that it was created during a period when flags hung from balconies and other everyday spaces. He explained that the rainbow flag represented a clash of viewpoints within Spanish society, and that his point was to remind audiences that symbols are objects shaped by the people who interact with them. The emphasis, he said, lay on the people behind the symbols rather than the fabric itself.
Despite the artist’s attempts to clarify the intent, many viewers failed to see it that way. The online response was intense, with messages flooding in from strangers and acquaintances alike. Mateo recalled facing a torrent of criticism and, at times, personal hostility, which prompted him to reconsider how he engages in public performances and how audiences interpret provocative material.
Looking back, the presenter acknowledged the personal cost beyond the legal and professional pressures. The toughest moment, he said, was witnessing his family feel the impact of the backlash, including encounters with people in the street who voiced their discontent. He also noted the inherent risk of performing controversial material in a live entertainment landscape, comparing it to other high-stakes performances where public reaction can be swift and unforgiving, and where the line between satire and offense can blur in an instant. The episode remains a reminder of how art and national symbols intersect in the public imagination, and how creators navigate the pressures of creative expression in a connected world.