The case of Víctor Ravelo, a 47-year-old from Vargue who claims to be the son of Gilberto Correa, is one of the most recent claims of paternity in the entertainment industry, coinciding with that of Julio Iglesias, whom this week a Spanish court forced to recognize like his son to the young Javier Sánchez-Santos.
The Venezuelan show business has not been exempt from these situations. We have an example in the singer Carlos Baute, who in 2012 recognized José Daniel Arellán, the result of a teenage courtship in Caracas.
The controversy is now knocking on the doors of the Zulia animator, 76, who is the father -legally- of two children, Karina Correa Maury and Carlos Enrique Correa Lares, as Ravelo assures that he is the product of a relationship between Correa and Carmen Yajaira Ravelo, " Carmencita ”, who at that time worked at Rctv as a dancer, model and extra.
Why after 47 years do you look for the animator?
My mother, before she died, on December 24, 2012, told me to look for my father so that he would feel that affection that I might lack. I just want him to recognize me, not his money, because he has always been at the top and that did not matter to me. I also have an 8 year old son who loves and deserves to meet his grandfather.
Have you personally spoken with Gilberto Correa?
Yes, just once. I have appeared several times at his house and the employees receive me with great pleasure, but the current wife, Diana Núñez, always tells me that she is not in the house, or is sleeping.
Do you have any proof of the paternity he claims?
I do not have them. Mrs. Núñez, at the time, hired an investigator and took me to her house. There they removed a lock of hair and when they did the test, they realized it was her son. But they have all those things. They never gave me a copy.
Have you taken any legal action in the case?
I filed a paternity Inquisition legal action. I did it the first time in Calabozo, in the 90s, then in 2007, and from there I didn't go ahead with it. Until this year I was going to do it again, but it was not necessary because they went looking for me and we met at his house.
After that, that's when they changed the way they spoke to me about him. From "Mr. Gilberto" they passed to "your father". The only time I sat down with him, he heard everything he had to say. I showed him photos of my mother, of my son, but all he did was give me a hug, and Mrs. Diana too. Then I retired. Currently, seeing the circumstances, who prefer a good image than respect me as a son, then we are going to face justice.
The entertainer, who was away from the public eye for a time, returned to the fore at the end of last year as a result of a controversial video in which he is supported by a cane, affected by the years and the aftermath of Parkinson's. Recently, the Santa Rosa Catholic University (Ucsar) named him Doctor Honoris Causa and, days ago, he presented his Sensational Artists for Life Foundation.
THE ZULIAN RESPONDS
This newspaper sought Correa to speak on the case. The animator sent this clarification:
"I, Gilberto Correa, in full use of my faculties, hereby make the following clarification: I absolutely do not know the subject who is trying to award me paternity that does not correspond to me, in this sense, I make public the harassment that said subject has at the gates of my residence, both me and my wife, I will promptly carry out any actions that may arise before the competent authorities. ”
Photography: Henry Delgado
The children who were abandoned...what they need is help...therapeutic so that they overcome their traumas...initially...and then according to their moral condition to sue for the simple but so necessary money...of course...someone could think...better the money...to be able to pay the psychiatrist But you have to accept it, if they abandoned you, it was because you were not important in the circumstances of the moment, it's that simple and hard...