Married Colombian president Gustavo Petro says he's not gay after 'he is seen in Panama with trans woman Linda Yepes'
Colombia's married president Gustavo Petro has found himself in an outrageous scandal after he was accused of cheating on his wife with a transgender woman.
The leftist president's office has refused to comment on a video circulating online that supposedly shows Petro walking with Colombian newscaster Linda Yepes after the inauguration of new Panamanian president José Raúl Mulino on Sunday.
The bombshell video, which shows a man and woman walking hand-in-hand before he stops to lovingly take her picture, has scandalized Colombia and the region, as reported by Telemundo.
The president, who has been married to Veronica Alcocer since 2000, has not denied or confirmed that he is the man seen getting close to Yepes, only speaking out to say he is not gay, and slam those he called 'transphobic.'
The former guerilla member wrote on X on Wednesday: 'I am heterosexual, but you will never hear or read a transphobic word from me. Because not only would he stop being a man, but also human.'
Colombia's married president Gustavo Petro's office has refused to comment on a video circulating online that supposedly shows him walking with trans newscaster Linda Yepes
The man in the viral video is seen taking a picture of the woman in Panama City
The president, who has been married to Veronica Alcocer (pictured) since 2000, has refused to deny that he is the man seen getting close to Yepes, only speaking out to say he is not gay, and slam those he called 'transphobic'
He added: 'I have always considered that intimacy is the "last level" of freedom, the last trench of being free, and I will preserve this principle until I write about myself or die.
'But these thousands of transphobic messages that have exploded in the hands of a right-wing, deeply exclusive, ignorant and discriminatory society must be rejected by the president.'
Speaking on Univision, Yepes played coy when asked about the viral video.
'I was in Panama. I love Panama,' she said.
When pressed further, she replied: 'I cannot speak about the details yet.
Yepes has also claimed she has received death threats since the video emerged.
While Petro has not confirmed he appears in the video, Telemundo pointed out that the president was seen wearing a similar outfit earlier in the day.
Speaking on Univision, Yepes played coy when asked about the viral video
While Petro has not confirmed he appears in the video, Telemundo pointed out that the president was seen wearing a similar outfit earlier in the day
Telemundo also noted the man in the video appears to be accompanied by a bodyguard who looked similar to the one seen with Petro earlier that day.
Petro's wife, a philanthropist, has not commented on the images.
Moreover, his comments were not enough for many Colombians, who left angry messages under his social media statement.
One comment ready: 'Your sexual orientation is irrelevant, but the use of pubic resources to finance your adventures would be of interest to us all.'
Another read: 'It's incredible that you get accused of cheating and blame the ultra-right and the Nazis.'
Petro, a supporter of Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, has been a loud voice against the US since taking power in 2022 after spending his life as a prominent left-wing figure in Colombia.
Petro's wife has not commented on the images. They are seen in 2022 celebrating his election
Yepes has also claimed she has received death threats since the video emerged
In April, thousands of Colombians took to the streets in a rebuke of Petro’s reform agenda.
While protests have been a constant since the former leftist guerrilla took office in 2022, they’ve gained momentum of late.
The president is struggling on various fronts, as one of his six kids is accused of corruption, as is his brother.
Alarming Colombians further - Petro has floated the possibility of rewriting the constitution to spur social reforms that he’s been unable to advance in the face of opposition by a hostile congress and conservative business groups.
In May, Petro announced Colombia would break ties with Israel over the war in Gaza.
Petro has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as 'genocide.'
