A comment from Matias Bertolotti During a TN broadcast, it ignited a strong controversy on social networks and in the media. While presenting a report on the intense storms over the weekend, the meteorologist described the pilgrimage to Luján, one of the most massive manifestations of faith in the country, as “denigrating.” And although he later explained through his networks what he meant by that adjective, The wheel had already begun to turn and as soon as he finished his participation on the air, the networks jumped against him.
Indeed, his words did not go unnoticed: in a matter of minutes, X (ex Twitter) was filled with critical messages, many of them coming from believers and others from users who, without being religious, considered that the tone of Bertolotti had been disrespectful towards a popular tradition.
Given the commotion, the meteorologist published a statement in which he assured that his statements were misunderstood and that his intention was to warn about climate risks, not to disqualify the faith of the pilgrims. But the damage had already been done: the discussion about the boundary between professional opinion and religious sensitivity was installed.
Why Bertolotti said that the Pilgrimage to Luján was degrading
It all began on Saturday, October 4, when thousands of faithful headed on foot to the Sanctuary from Luján despite the weather alerts that predicted strong storms. During a live broadcast, Bertolotti expressed his surprise at the situation:
“The pilgrimage to Luján was degrading, terrible“, he said, and added: “When you care about nothing, as long as faith is going to save me… Did you see people walking with water up to their knees?” The phrase, brief but forceful, immediately went viral. For many, the meteorologist had gone from warning about climate danger to question faith itself. Others considered his tone to be derogatory toward those who participated in a practice deeply rooted in Argentine culture.
From his personal account, Bertolotti tried to explain his position before the official statement: “A belief cannot be above an orange alert. The night walk should have been suspended due to the risks,” he wrote. Even so, the wave of criticism was already unstoppable.
The voices in X that came out to cross Bertolotti
In X, the rejection came from different sectors. The user @El_Prensero wrote: “The words of the TN meteorologist are regrettable. Millions walk with faith and hope to ask for bread, health and work. Making fun of that is disrespecting the people and their faith.”
Other messages joined the claim. @ayetextual was blunt: “Being Catholic is not degrading. Expressing our faith is not degrading“. Meanwhile, @lari__z He responded directly to the meteorologist with an even harsher tone: “It is degrading to bomb a Catholic church in Gaza and injure an Argentine pastor. The soldiers of the Malvinas send you greetings, so that you can see that the Virgin of Luján is part of our identity.”
There were even those who, without sharing the faith, expressed their disagreement with the forms. The user @bernardogsilva commented: “And an atheist tells yourespect and manners above all. If you really thought that, you said it another way and that’s it.”
The reaction showed that the comment had struck a chord: the Pilgrimage to Luján is not only a religious act, but also a cultural oneand for many Argentines it represents a symbol of unity and hope.
The statement released by Bertolotti
Faced with a barrage of criticism, the meteorologist published a statement on its social networks to clarify your statements and apologize. “When I used the word ‘denigrate’, I was referring to the authorities who must take care of the pilgrimage, never the pilgrims,” he explained.
Bertolotti He assured that his intention had been warn about climate risksremembering that that weekend there were people with hypothermia and flooding in several areas. “Faith does not save you from a storm, and I say this to raise awareness,” he wrote.
Bertolotti
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Furthermore, he emphasized his belonging to the Catholic community and his respect for religious manifestations: “I could never attack the faith or religion to which I belong. My only motive in this medium is to warn about the dangers of the climate.” The meteorologist closed his message with a personal reflection: “To those who attack by saying barbaric things about my life, I warn them not to waste their time, because what they will say never affected me.”
With his clarifications, Bertolotti sought to close a controversy that, beyond the intentions, put on the table the delicate balance between the informative role and respect for popular beliefs.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
