Linda Yepes: The trans woman linked to the fake Gustavo Petro video in Panama
The trans presenter is at the center of a controversy after a video that supposedly accompanies President Gustavo Petro
A fake video that went viral on social networks on Monday, July 1, has generated an intense debate about the identity of a woman who appears next to President Gustavo Petro. The Colombian president had arrived in Panama to attend the inauguration of José Raúl Mulino, winner of the elections on May 5, 2024. However, what caught attention was a video in which you can see who appears to be Petro walking, holding hands and laughing with a woman through the streets of Casco Viejo, the Historic Center of Panama.
The video shows a person wearing the same clothes that Gustavo Petro wore during Mulino's inauguration ceremony, which has led many Internet users to claim that it is the president. In the images, the woman and the man walk hand in hand, laugh at her and, towards the end of the clip, he hugs her waist. This scene sparked a stir on social networks, where many users suggested that the head of state was in a compromising situation.
In the midst of the controversy, several Internet users pointed out that the woman in the video was the trans presenter Linda Yepes. Although there is no official confirmation, Yepes decided to address the issue on her social networks.
In one of her Instagram stories, Linda Yepes commented with humor on the situation: "I can't believe that I'm a trend in the world. How come? At what point? So I'm not going to leave Linda's terrace anymore, but I was going to have the bag of your life. I'm a trend on Twitter, now this page is called X. I don't have Twitter, I have one, but I haven't used it in a long time. I'm a trend on Instagram. “When was all this?”
In 2014, Linda Yepes became the first trans woman to appear on a Colombian television newscast, presenting the culture and entertainment section on the TeleCaribe channel's news program. Since then, she has received numerous recognitions and opportunities in the television medium.
Despite speculation and the viralization of the video, President Gustavo Petro and his team have not officially confirmed the identity of the individual in the video or the woman accompanying him. The controversy continues to grow in Colombian family gatherings, while Linda Yepes continues to be a trend on social networks.
Many people on social media suspect that the video was planned by the government to divert attention from more important issues.