Florinda Meza, the iconic Mexican actress best known for her portrayal of Doña Florinda in the beloved television series El Chavo del Ocho, finds herself at the center of a media storm once again. At 76, Meza is no stranger to the spotlight, but the recent release of the HBO Max bioserie Chespirito: sin querer queriendo has reignited old controversies and placed her in an unwelcome position: that of being labeled one of the most hated women in Mexico.
The series, which delves into the life of Roberto Gómez Bolaños—creator of El Chavo del Ocho and Meza’s late husband—has stirred heated debate across social media and in the press. According to Diario Primicia, many viewers have blamed Meza for the end of Bolaños’s first marriage to Graciela Fernández, a narrative that has dogged her for decades but has found new life with the bioserie’s airing. The show’s depiction of the romantic relationship between Meza and Bolaños, begun while he was still married and the father of six, has led to a fresh wave of criticism and public judgment.
During a candid interview with journalist Adela Micha on September 14, 2025, Meza was confronted with the public’s perception of her. Micha noted, “I was looking at who are the most hated figures in Mexico, and you’re in third place. I don’t know if it’s in order, but I saw three. All three are judged for supposedly taking or destroying couples.” Meza, never one to shy away from tough questions, responded with a mixture of frustration and reflection: “When you hear about a woman whose husband leaves her for another, you always hear the phrase: ‘she stole him.’ And what about the men, why is it always against the woman? Didn’t they participate?”
Meza went on to emphasize that the only woman capable of destroying a marriage is the one already inside it, underscoring her belief that internal problems, not third parties, are the main cause of breakups. “The only woman who can destroy a marriage is the one inside. And it’s not just her alone, don’t tell me that story,” she insisted. Her remarks resonated with many women who feel unfairly blamed in similar situations, but they also sparked backlash from those who continue to see her as the villain in Bolaños’s marital drama.
The comparison to other high-profile women embroiled in public relationship controversies was inevitable. Alongside Meza, singer Ángela Aguilar and comedian Karla Panini have also been named in this informal ranking of ‘most hated’ women, fueled by social media narratives. When reporters pressed Meza about her supposed similarities to Aguilar—who has been accused of ‘stealing’ the partner of another woman—Meza made it clear she had no prior knowledge of Aguilar or the details involving Christian Nodal. “I don’t know her; I just found out about it with Adela,” Meza said, her irritation evident.
She used the opportunity to call for greater solidarity among women, urging, “I would tell all women to be more feminist. We live in a man’s world where the first enemy of a woman is another woman. I don’t know what’s going on.” Meza’s frustration was palpable as she challenged the notion that a man is something to be taken or stolen. “They told me she took someone’s husband. What is he—a hair clip, a ring? And what about him? What I think is that no one should meddle in someone else’s life.”
The actress also defended her own long-standing love with Bolaños, asserting that the public’s tendency to judge without knowing the full story is misguided. She bristled when the press brought up Rosita Bouchot, a fellow actress from El Chavo del Ocho who has claimed Meza lived in Bolaños’s shadow. The repeated scrutiny of her personal life and the constant comparisons to other women in the public eye seemed to wear on Meza during the media encounter.
But the most significant blow, in Meza’s view, has come from within the Bolaños family itself. The new bioserie, produced by Bolaños’s own children, has left Meza feeling betrayed and deeply wounded. At a recent press event, she directed a clear message to her late husband’s children, lamenting the harm she believes the series has done to Bolaños’s legacy. As reported by Ventaneando, Meza declared, “Life puts everyone in their place.” She further stated, “He who has nothing to hide fears nothing,” and added, “If anyone knows the truth, it’s God.”
Meza expressed sorrow that the series had tarnished the memory of Gómez Bolaños, who, as she pointed out, is no longer here to defend himself. “To someone who should not be attacked, even just to respect the peace of the dead, is Roberto,” she said, her voice tinged with both strength and sadness. Despite the pain caused by the public and familial criticism, Meza announced that she would not be taking legal action against Bolaños’s children. “I am strong, but that doesn’t mean things don’t hurt me,” she admitted, revealing the emotional toll the controversy has taken on her.
The bioserie’s focus on the origins of Meza and Bolaños’s relationship—emphasizing that it began while he was married—has fueled speculation and judgment, both old and new. Yet, Meza stands firm in her conviction that outsiders cannot truly know the complexities of another’s relationship. Her repeated calls for empathy and understanding, particularly among women, reflect a broader frustration with the way society continues to judge women more harshly than men in matters of the heart.
As the debate rages on, Meza’s words linger: “No one should meddle in someone else’s life.” Whether her critics will heed that advice is another matter entirely. For now, Florinda Meza remains a figure both admired and maligned, her legacy forever intertwined with that of Roberto Gómez Bolaños and the enduring cultural phenomenon of El Chavo del Ocho.
