Scandal on El Desafío: Audience Boos Juan del Val After Comment on Yélamo's Challenge

During Friday's episode of the sixth season of the Spanish program El Desafío, two significant incidents occurred, dominating media coverage. The first and most prominent involved the reaction of the live audience to one of the jurors. During a driving challenge performed by presenter José Yélamo, jury member Juan del Val made a comment that was harshly received. The studio audience responded with loud, collective booing of del Val. As media outlets emphasize, this was the first such reaction in the entire ongoing season. The incident was noted in all reports, although the detailed content of the controversial remark was not quoted. Juan del Val is a Spanish writer and journalist who has been a regular fixture on entertainment programs and talk shows for many years. His provocative, often critical comments have become his trademark, though they rarely meet with such a direct reaction from the studio audience. The second dramatic moment involved contestant, influencer Jessica Goicoechea, who faced one of the program's toughest challenges – an apnea test, i.e., holding her breath underwater. Despite weeks of preparation under the strict supervision of safety instructor Juandi Alcázar, the attempt ended alarmingly. According to reports, after emerging from the water, Goicoechea was completely disoriented. „Al salir no sabía ni dónde estaba” (When I came out, I didn't even know where I was) — Jessica Goicoechea – admitted the contestant herself. Some sources, particularly El Confidencial, use even stronger terms, suggesting she "came out unconscious" and that Alcázar had to pull her from the water, aborting the challenge. This once again raised questions about the safety limits in such spectacles. Chronology of Events in the El Desafío Episode: 20 lutego, emisja — José Yélamo's Driving Challenge; 20 lutego, emisja — Jessica Goicoechea's Apnea Challenge; 21 lutego — Announcement of Extreme Challenges Articles also preview what awaits contestants in the next gala. Willy Bárcenas will face the "Desafío Glassduo" challenge, requiring precision and coordination. Meanwhile, Daniel Illescas will take a risk in one of the evening's most spectacular tasks, the "Columpio de fuego" – a fire swing. José Yélamo, who was already at the center of controversy this week, will have to demonstrate endurance in a Pole Dance Extreme challenge. These events show that the program's producers do not intend to lower the difficulty level and drama, despite clear signals of physical and mental strain on the contestants. The audience incident provoked by del Val may be a sign of viewer fatigue with a certain judging style, while the Goicoechea case directly touches on issues of responsibility and medical care on set.