Teresa Rabal, actress and singer, has reacted with astonishment and dismay after learning live about the vandalism and removal of the sculpture of Sancho Gracia in Mondariz, Pontevedra, following the recent conviction of her grandson Daniel Sancho. The news, shared by the newspaper ABC, was broadcast on the programme ‘Y ahora Sonsoles’ while Rabal was participating to comment on Daniel Sancho’s sentence. “My God! In Mondariz? I’m speechless. It seems like a real outrage to me,” exclaimed the actress.
Act of vandalism in Mondariz
The sculpture of Sancho Gracia, removed
The sculpture, which was inaugurated in 2014 as a tribute to the actor known for his role in the series ‘Curro Jiménez’, has been removed by the municipal authorities after suffering damage of unknown origin. The Mondariz government has decided not to reinstall it, which has generated a debate in the community and has caused indignation in Gracia’s family.
“Families are not to blame for what their children, grandchildren or nephews do,” Rabal said before hearing the news, referring to Daniel Sancho’s conviction. Upon learning of the vandalism of the sculpture, he added: “What Sancho Gracia did in life… It’s an outrage! What does it have to do with it! Is he going to pay for what his grandson did? I don’t understand it.”
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The statue of Sancho Gracia was erected in the gardens of the Balneario de Mondariz, a place that the actor visited frequently and where he was much loved. The tribute, which was attended by more than a hundred people, including family and friends, was a recognition of his career and his ties to Galicia. The removal of the sculpture has been received with surprise and sadness by those who remember the actor fondly. The mayor of Mondariz, César Gil Bernárdez, confirmed that the sculpture was removed after the damage suffered and that there are no plans to reinstall it: “At 8 in the morning we found the vandalized statue.”
Teresa Rabal ended her speech on ‘Y ahora Sonsoles’ by calling for a fight to preserve the memory of Sancho Gracia. “We have to fight for that,” she said, stressing the importance of not forgetting the legacy of those who have left a positive mark on culture and the community.
