The widow of legendary Mexican singer Vicente Fernández, María del Refugio Abarca Villaseñor, better known as “Doña Cuquita,” is speaking out about the new TV series El Último Rey: El Hijo Del Pueblo. In a statement released on social media on Sunday (March 13), Doña Cuquita said that producing an unauthorized show on Fernández’s life and career is equal to theft.
“Vicente registered his trademarks, his artistic name and the law protects his image,” Doña Cuquita said. “He did everything right and according to Mexican law. No one in Mexico can take away those rights for profit. That is not freedom of expression, it is theft.”
El Último Rey, which debuts Monday (March 14) on Televisa and Univisión, is based on the controversial book of the same name by Argentine writer Olga Wornat. Another series about Fernández, which actually has the blessing of his family, will stream in the United States on Netflix.
For Doña Cuquita, the issue is a “matter of dignity,” especially since before he died, Fernández did not sell the rights to his story to Televisa. Instead, he signed a contract for his bioseries with Caracol and Netflix.
“Neither I nor my children want a penny from Televisa,” she said. “With all due respect, do not come to me with your story that [El Último Rey] is a tribute for Vicente. Stealing his image is for money.”
In her statement, Doña Cuquita also made it clear that no one from the family would be making any further comments on the issue.
Last week, El Último Rey producer Juan Osorio said actor Pablo Montero, who is portraying Fernández on their series, will do the “best” job playing “El Charro de Huentitán.” Actor Jaime Camil will portray Vicente Fernández on the Netflix series The Idol of the People.