The Rubiales case continues to dominate headlines around the world, and in Spain the focus remains on the kiss delivered by the RFEF president to Jenni Hermoso after the women’s World Cup final. The incident sparked widespread debate about consent, power, and public conduct at the highest levels of sport, prompting discussions that linger far beyond the stadiums.
Meanwhile, broadcasters have revisited another controversial moment from the past: a kiss that drew similar ire years earlier. In 2005, Julio Iglesias appeared on a television program with Susana Giménez, the renowned Argentinian host. As she stepped onto the set, Iglesias leaned in to kiss her, a gesture that was met with immediate discomfort and hesitation from Giménez.
“No, please,” she exclaimed, attempting to step back and create distance. He pressed on, and she visibly tried to shield her face. The moment underscored a clash between old-fashioned bravado and modern expectations of personal boundaries on screen. The host later suggested that the intimate moments Iglesias had shared in private were more appealing than those shown publicly, a claim that only intensified the discomfort of the moment.
In the ensuing exchange, Giménez asserted that Iglesias was a married man and urged him to respect the boundary. The incident sparked a broader conversation about consent, respect, and the line between charm and coercion in public appearances. It highlighted how a single gesture can ripple through cultural conversations about gender, power, and privacy, prompting audiences to reevaluate how such moments should be handled in the media landscape.
Taken together, these episodes illustrate how the dynamics of consent, authority, and media scrutiny intersect on the world stage. They remind viewers that moments of spontaneity in front of a camera can carry lasting consequences for all involved, and they invite ongoing reflection on how public figures navigate personal boundaries while under intense public gaze.