While media reports initially circulated regarding her dismissal, Zona Latina issued a formal statement denying the termination of her contract.
Zona Latina Denies Termination Amid Administrative Leave
Speculation surrounding Barrientos’ status on Zona de Estrellas intensified following a live broadcast disagreement with Javier Fernández, who accused Barrientos of mistreating station workers, according to El Informador Chile. Additional reports from outlets like Glamorama noted that a former makeup artist filed a complaint against Barrientos under Chile’s Ley Karin workplace regulations.
In response to mounting speculation, Filmocentro Televisión, the parent company of Zona Latina, released an official statement on Thursday denying the rumors. According to the network’s communication, Barrientos maintains an active contractual relationship with the company, and no contract termination or dismissal has been processed. The broadcaster stated that her temporary absence from the screen is due strictly to an administrative leave.
Barrientos confirmed this status in an interview with Página 7, stating that she took a few days off following the on-air dispute.
On-Air Reactions and Social Media Memorial
Valencia emphasized during the broadcast that he was relaying the official information provided during the production team’s meeting by Filmocentro Televisión.
Simultaneously, Barrientos published an emotional video on her TikTok account commemorating ten months since the death of her pet, Asia, a seven-year-old French bulldog that passed away in November due to complications from a spleen tumor. In the video, Barrientos shared footage of a memorial altar set up in her apartment featuring framed photographs surrounded by candles, drawing various reactions of support and commentary from her digital followers.