Overview
- During the season opener, judges used sexually suggestive and vulgar language toward Marcella Bella, including references to her being “smutandata,” showing the “duodeno,” and comparisons involving “arrapatissime” tourists.
- Marcella Bella said the remarks offended her as a woman and an artist, denied being half‑naked, and stated she expected an apology from Fabio Canino.
- Fabio Canino acknowledged his comment as out of place, apologized publicly, and pledged to apologize to Bella in person.
- Selvaggia Lucarelli said she was joking about Bella’s costume, Guillermo Mariotto called his “duodeno” line hyperbole, Ivan Zazzaroni urged context, and host Milly Carlucci described the show as inclusive with no intent to offend.
- Senator Susanna Donatella Campione issued an official condemnation of the judges’ words and later noted that only Canino had apologized as the debate over sexism on Italian TV persisted.