In a shocking turn of events, veteran news anchor Gustavo Macalpin was fired during a live broadcast earlier this week in Mexicali.
Macalpin, who has been with Channel 66 for seven years, criticized the recent appointment of Carlos Torres, husband of Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, during his opinion segment on Ciudadano 2.0. Torres had been appointed by the Tijuana mayor to the role of special projects coordinator—a move Macalpin openly questioned.
Mid-broadcast, Macalpin received a text message, and shortly thereafter, Channel 66 owner and general manager Luis Arnoldo Cabada appeared on air.
In a surprising and emotional moment, Cabada hugged Macalpin before delivering the news: “I came to thank you for your last six years of work… but this is your last day.” Macalpin, caught off guard, responded, “Sure? This is a surprise…”
Following the abrupt termination, Macalpin took to TikTok, suggesting that his political criticism might have contributed to his firing. “What I do is political criticism, so I think you can draw your own conclusions,” he stated. Despite this, Macalpin clarified that he doesn’t believe his recent comments about Torres were the direct cause, implying that the decision had likely been premeditated.
Governor Ávila Olmeda later addressed the incident, denying any involvement. “We don’t know why he was dismissed yesterday from a media outlet,” she wrote on Facebook, adding, “I will always defend freedom of speech… we all have the right to express ourselves.”
This on-air firing has sparked debate about free speech in media and raised concerns over political pressure on journalists.
The governor denied seeing the on-air firing and said she considers Macalpin a friend to herself and her family.
“We don’t know why he was dismissed yesterday from a media outlet,” the governor wrote on her Facebook account. “I will always defend freedom of speech…. we all have the right to express ourselves.”