Venezuelan actress Gaby Spanic, known worldwide for her starring role in the telenovela La Usurpadora, was a participant in the Brazilian format A Fazenda 17 – also known as “La Granja VIP Brasil” – until an incident marked the abrupt end of her participation.
The controversy began when Spanic denounced xenophobia by some contestants at the beginning of October 2025. In a dynamic of the program, she pointed out that she had received a negative response after accusing other contestants of discriminatory behavior towards her because of her Venezuelan nationality.
At that stage, she told the camera: “I feel that I am being a victim of xenophobia for being from another country, and that’s really ugly!”, generating debate in networks about the coexistence and dynamics of the program.
On October 19, 2025, during a gala of the reality show, an activity took place in which the participants had to choose who they considered to be the “calmest” and then perform a symbolic action. In that context, Spanic selected her partner Tamires Assis, whom she claimed not to defend herself against what she called “repeated humiliations”.
Faced with Assis’ refusal to respond – to react with aggression – Spanic slapped him in the middle of the broadcast and exclaimed: “Why don’t you defend yourself? You’ve been humiliated enough, that’s enough!
The impact was immediate: cameras, colleagues and audience reacted with surprise. The program’s rules establish the absolute prohibition of physical aggression, which provoked a formal reaction from the production.
Gaby Spanic: Expulsion and Production Consequences
Minutes after the altercation, the program’s management – headed by Rodrigo Carelli – announced the immediate expulsion of Gaby Spanic. In a press release, it was stated that “respect is a fundamental value within this format. The production does not tolerate violence in any form.
Before retiring, Spanic said goodbye on the terrace of the venue with the phrase: “I give up, goodbye. May God bless everyone. Shortly thereafter, several Brazilian media reported that the actress was planning to leave the pageant for good and return to Mexico.
The incident generated a strong reaction on social networks. Hashtags such as #GabySpanic and #LaGranjaBrasil quickly trended. Some of the public defended her performance as a cry in the face of violence and harassment, especially considering her previous allegations of xenophobia. Others, on the other hand, criticized the aggression as an unacceptable transgression on television.
The dispute also opened a reflection on the limits of reality shows, particularly when dealing with issues of discrimination, aggression and emotional competition. The figure of Spanic – who had already been involved in media conflicts in the past – was once again at the center of the television debate.
Gaby Spanic joins the list of entertainment figures who have left or been expelled from contests due to behavioral issues, but this particular case stands out for the discrimination component she previously alleged. Her exit from the program after 34 days is an episode that stands out for the physical violence as well as for the ethical and personal claims she raised.
This episode could have consequences for his international career, as well as open doors to broader debates about coexistence, nationality and behavior in high-risk television formats.
Here is the moment of Gaby Spanic’s slap to the participant.
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