In a society where women continue to face structural barriers to leadership, the growing visibility of workplace harassment reveals a deeper and more uncomfortable truth: Professional paths are often obstructed not only by inequality but by abuse of power. In Colombia, that reality has erupted into public view through the resurgence of the #MeToo Colombia movement, now closely tied to allegations of sexual and workplace harassment inside Noticias Caracol, part of Caracol Television, one of the most influential and powerful newsrooms in Colombia.
Although two long-time male journalists and presenters have been reportedly named across various media outlets and social networks, Colombia One will responsibly withhold their identities until respective investigations are concluded and formal charges have been filed against the journalists in question.
For now, it becomes evident that what began as individual testimonies has evolved into a national reckoning — one that has reached the criminal justice system, mobilized dozens of journalists, and expanded beyond a single newsroom to expose patterns across both private media and public broadcasting.
The case has also forced a broader reflection on the conditions under which women build careers in industries historically shaped by male-dominated hierarchies.
At the center of this moment lies a critical tension: The gap between formal institutional commitments to equality and the lived realities of women navigating professional environments where power, influence, and silence often intersect. What began as individual testimonies has now rapidly escalated into a national conversation as a growing archive of voices determined to dismantle long-standing cultures of silence in Colombian journalism.
From one testimony to a national initiative, the #MeeToo Colombia movement gains momentum
The current wave of #MeToo Colombia did not emerge overnight. While the global movement gained traction in 2017, its impact in Colombia remained fragmented until a series of testimonies from women journalists converged into a collective narrative.
The turning point came when Juanita Gomez — a Colombian journalist who previously worked at Caracol Television — decided to publicly recount an alleged episode of harassment she says occurred in 2015. Her testimony ignited a chain reaction that transformed individual experiences into a shared movement.
Through her account on X, Gomez reframed her experience not as an isolated incident, but as part of a broader pattern sustained by silence and power dynamics. In one of her most powerful reflections, she wrote: “The advice I would give to Juanita in 2015, in this international coverage, is that certain behaviors of some ‘untouchable figures’ at her workplace are not okay. I would tell her that having to push away a journalist/presenter by force, several times, and with shoves … so that he wouldn’t kiss her in an elevator is not normal and should never have happened.”
She added: “I would also tell her to talk about it with her colleagues, hopefully many of them, because among them there are much worse stories, and together, they would surely find a way to report the harasser, and then it wouldn’t be the word of ‘the girl’ vs. that of the male journalist/presenter. I would also tell her that even though the journalist/presenter later was rude and tried to make her feel bad many times, he could not stop her career. And now, 11 years later, there were others who were able to report at the right time, achieving what seems to be a sense of divine justice. Even if today, I must write this message referring to that episode and to that man as ‘journalist/presenter’ and not by his name”.
She also highlighted in her long message: “P.S. I know you are going to read this message, and there will surely be maneuvers to try to discredit what is happening. But here I am reading many other disgusting cases (which I will also publish) … because there are many women journalists who have lived through a similar situation. No more fear. NO MORE.”
The latter was a veiled reference to one of the journalists involved. Her testimony resonated because it exposed not just behavior, but structure: Informal hierarchies, reputational power, and institutional silence that often discourage reporting.
Gomez also helped organize the response. By launching yotecreocolega@gmail.com, she created a confidential channel for testimonies. As she wrote: “We are receiving many cases of abuse in the media, and we are documenting all of them. … Fear is over!” She added: “For years, we have seen how the dreams of young journalists are violated by sexual predators who hide behind the power of their positions and the silence of institutions. Today, we want that to change.”
The initiative has quickly gained legitimacy and institutional backing from UN Women, Sisma Mujer, and Casa de la Mujer de Bogota — turning what began as a digital outcry into a structured platform for advocacy and documentation.
Testimonies, institutional response, and a ‘normalized’ culture under scrutiny
As testimonies multiplied, the case escalated beyond the media sphere into the judicial system. The Office of the Attorney General of Colombia announced the opening of a formal investigation.
“An investigative initiative has been opened … against ‘two journalists and presenters for alleged sexual harassment,” the statement of the entity says. The Attorney General’s Office also enabled the email denuncia.acoso@fiscalía.gov.co, signaling both the scale of the allegations and the need for institutional coordination.
The intensity of the reports has exposed a reality that goes beyond individual responsibility. Many testimonies refer to “untouchable figures,” suggesting a culture where influence shields individuals from accountability and where institutional mechanisms fail to act preventively.
In response, Caracol Television issued an official statement: “In light of complaints received against two journalists and presenters for alleged sexual harassment, Caracol Television reports that it has immediately activated internal protocols and procedures established by law to address and investigate these types of situations.
The company is currently carrying out the corresponding investigation, guaranteeing due process, confidentiality, and respect for the families and parties involved, prioritizing at all times the protection and support of potential victims, with the purpose of clarifying the facts and making the appropriate decisions as soon as possible. Caracol Television reiterates its commitment to promoting safe, respectful workplaces free from any form of harassment.”
The statement reflects institutional awareness, but it also highlights a central contradiction: The existence of protocols does not necessarily translate into trust or effective protection. For many, this statement was only issued once allegations by several women began to gain media traction. This is also considering that many of the allegations now publicly known date back to events that allegedly occurred more than 10 years ago.
Due to the complexity of the matter, Juan Roberto Vargas, Colombian journalist and director of Noticias Caracol, reinforced this stance publicly and made the following statement: “The organization stands with the victims and their families.” He described the situation as a painful moment and emphasized the need for “determination, decency, and rigor.”
Another media personality, Néstor Morales, a Colombian journalist and director of the morning radio show “Mañanas Blu,” joined in showing solidarity with these allegations and acknowledged the emotional complexity of the case: “From Blu Radio, we absolutely reject any form of sexual harassment or gender-based violence. There is no possible justification for behaviors that violate human dignity,” he said.
He also noted that it pains him due to his personal closeness to some of those accused. “I have immense pain … but the most important thing is the victims of sexual harassment.”
Women journalists speak, revealing a systemic problem
At the center of this moment are the women whose testimonies have transformed private experiences into public evidence. And these are just a tiny part of the voices that continue to join in these allegations against Caracol TV.
Lina Tobon, a journalist and sports anchor, described a 2022 incident: “He groped me under the excuse of ‘touching the logo on the shirt.’” Her reflection captures a recurring dilemma: “How can I prove it. … It’s my word against his.” She added, “Silence protects them. Fear protects them. And institutions … end up protecting them too.”
Tobon also described workplace harassment beyond the sexual dimension, including sabotage and hostility after advancing professionally, illustrating how power operates across multiple layers.
Her message to younger journalists was clear: “SPEAK OUT. … We want you dreaming, safe, and without having to endure abusive environments.”
Other journalists reinforced this narrative. Laura Palomino, CEO and co-founder of Brava News Colombia, emphasized solidarity: “No woman should have to go through this alone”.
She also highlighted in a message on her X account a powerful reality in the midst of the allegations: “It is not always possible to have ‘proof’ of harassment, because it often happens in private, without witnesses, and in contexts of power where the victim cannot respond in the moment. If everything depended on perfect evidence from the start, most cases would never come to light.”
Monica Rodriguez, another renowned presenter and journalist who has also joined this #MeToo solidarity movement, highlighted in her X account: “Several journalists have come together to support and stand by the women who have been victims of sexual harassment in the media in Colombia. For years, we have witnessed how the dreams of young journalists are undermined by sexual predators who hide behind the power of their positions and the silence of institutions. Today, we want that to change.” Together, these voices reveal a system where silence is not accidental — it is produced.
The Hollman Morris case and a movement gone viral: #NoToThePactOfSilence
The movement has also reignited scrutiny around Hollman Morris, director at state-owned chain RTVC, whose case illustrates how similar dynamics extend into public media. The hashtag #NoAlPactoDeSilencio (#NoToThePactOfSilence) has become a central rallying point, reflecting frustration with what many see as institutional protection mechanisms.
More than 100 women — including Maria Jimena Duzan, Jineth Bedoya Lima, and Catalina Ruiz-Navarro (all renowned Colombian journalists) — signed a letter supporting Lina Castillo. Lina Castillo is a Colombian woman who has been publicly involved in the high‑profile case against Hollman Morris.
In January 2019, she accused Morris of sexual and workplace harassment while he was serving as a Bogota city councilor, alleging inappropriate conduct during her period of professional interaction with him. Her accusation became one of the earliest and most discussed allegations against Morris, and it has remained part of the broader discussion on sexual misconduct and abuse of power within Colombian media and political circles.
Maria Jimena Duzan, a renowned Colombian journalist with an extensive career in Colombia’s major media outlets, shared the following messages on her X account: “To the journalists at Noticias Caracol who bravely reported the sexual harassment they were victims of, my respect. And to all the women who are sharing their stories of harassment, as well. Many of us stayed silent before. Not anymore.”
And regarding the case of Hollman Morris, she said: “In this statement that we — journalists, writers, and lawyers — signed, we outline all the actions that Hollman Morris, director of RTVC, has systematically taken to silence the women who accuse him.”
The other complaint, which also accused Hollman Morris of inappropriate sexual conduct, also took place in 2019. It was filed by Maria Antonia Garcia de la Torre, a Colombian journalist and columnist. Garcíia de la Torre submitted a criminal complaint to the Attorney General’s Office, alleging that Morris had forcibly kissed and touched her without consent during a meeting in Madrid, Spain, in 2011, when she was working there as a journalist.
Her complaint was eventually archived by prosecutors, and she has publicly requested that it be reopened, emphasizing the obstacles victims face in getting sexual violence cases formally prosecuted.
After Lina Marcela Castillo and Maria Antonia Garcia de la Torre publicly accused him, Hollman Morris filed criminal complaints against both women with Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office. He charged them with insult, slander, and false reporting — legal terms in Colombia referring to harmful statements that damage a person’s reputation or falsely accuse them of a crime.
Morris claimed that their public statements had seriously harmed his personal and professional reputation. For now, and regarding these two cases, there has been no definitive public judgment released.
In the end, these women have argued the system has pursued the complainant rather than prioritizing the investigation of alleged abuse. They call for a gender-sensitive process and insist: “The silence cannot be the answer.” Morris denies all allegations, and the case remains ongoing. However, it has already expanded into a national debate about power, justice, and freedom of expression.
Breaking the silence: Will it finally hold the ‘sacred cows’ accountable?
What connects these cases is not only the allegations themselves, but the structures that allowed them to persist. The investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia represents a critical test.
For Caracol Television, RTVC, and the broader media ecosystem, the challenge is no longer recognition but transformation. Because what has already changed is undeniable: Silence has been broken. And as journalist Juanita Gomez declared: “No more fear. NO MORE.” A message that now defines a movement — and a turning point for Colombian journalism.
The outcome of this investigation will determine how much reality will change for the many who have been victims of abuse. And that the so-called vacas sagradas or sacred cows are eventually held accountable by the relevant authorities for their actions will undoubtedly mark a turning point in power structures — not only in the media but more broadly in various work environments where these practices have likely also become normalized.