Instead of Apologizing, Chicharito Doubles Down on Misogyny, Finds a Woman to Validate His Sexism
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández says he wants to be seen as vulnerable and real. But instead of offering an apology after his sexist comments about women went viral, the former golden boy of Mexican fútbol returned with a different tactic: inviting a woman to validate him.
In a series of new videos, Chicharito sits down with integrative psychologist and influencer María Gómez to talk about gender roles, masculine and feminine energy, and the backlash that got him fined by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF). According to El Financiero, the conversation was meant to “go deeper” into the topic that sparked global outrage. But for many, it looked like a rebrand disguised as a reflection.
Chicharito says he’s just “being real,” but critics aren’t buying it
In the now viral conversation with Gómez, posted across his social platforms on August 2, Chicharito opens by saying, “My intention was obviously to touch on a deeper topic. It was never to divide, insult, offend, or limit anyone.” He claims the internet is finally seeing “the man behind the myth.”
“I’ve been through incredibly painful things, and people think that because I have money, those things shouldn’t happen to me,” he says. “I’m learning a lot. I’m questioning something I care deeply about, because I’m living it myself. I’d much rather be vulnerable and real than be fake and please everyone.”
But as Marca reports, Chicharito didn’t stop there. He followed the interview with another silent Instagram video titled “Very interesting phrases,” featuring text like: “Opinar, ya no es compartir una visión, es arriesgarse al castigo,” or “To have an opinion is no longer to share a view, it’s to risk punishment.”
The post, full of vague philosophical statements, felt like a protest against the FMF’s disciplinary action. El Imparcial interpreted it as a silent rebuke to the sanctions placed on him.
Instead of accountability, Chicharito brings in María Gómez
To support his original stance, Chicharito introduces Gómez as a “female specialist” in the topic of masculine and feminine energy. Gómez, who describes herself on Instagram as an integrative and transpersonal psychologist focused on spiritual healing, detoxification, and energy alignment, doesn’t express offense at his comments.
“I wasn’t offended,” she says, “but if I had seen the video years ago, I would have been.” She goes on to say that cleaning is “a quality all people should have,” and found Chicharito’s video “very interesting.”
According to El Universal, Gómez has over 77,000 followers on Instagram and often posts about “rebalancing energies,” “emotional transformation,” and “functional nutrition.” She describes her work as helping people who are tired of living a life that no longer makes sense to them.
Chicharito says this is about growth, but keeps shifting the narrative
Throughout the interview, Chicharito insists he never meant to hurt anyone. “People are just now meeting Javier without a soccer ball, without the shield of the uniform, without the goals that made him a legend,” he says.
As reported by Comunicación XXI, he adds: “We were taught to only show perfection. To live through image, not essence. To meet expectations before listening to ourselves. We chase an inhuman idea of perfection. And when someone dares to be real, we crucify them.”
He presents his controversial remarks as a misunderstood attempt to spark dialogue. “I questioned a topic that I care deeply about,” he says. “I want to learn about it, because I’m living it myself. As painful as it is, I prefer to be vulnerable [rather] than to be fake.”
Chicharito denies rumors about unpaid child support
Midway through the video, Gómez brings up a separate controversy. She asks Chicharito about allegations that he owes child support to his ex-wife, Sarah Kohan. He firmly denies it.
“Since I divorced, I haven’t owed a single cent of child support,” he says. “I see my children exactly according to the schedule agreed upon with their mother. I could say more about my situation, but I won’t, out of respect for her and for my children. It’s completely false.”
The exchange appears to be part of a broader strategy to clear his name, both personally and professionally. According to TUDN, Chicharito did not travel with Chivas to the Leagues Cup due to an injury, but used the time off to focus on repairing his public image.
Chicharito claims he’s being punished for having an opinion
In a move that mirrors manosphere influencers, Chicharito seems to paint himself as a victim of censorship. As Marca reports, the captions in his latest video include phrases like, “Being strong means being able to say your truth without losing your peace,” and “The show sells more than the truth.”
But the timing of the post, following his FMF fine and internal sanctions from Chivas, tells a different story. The disciplinary actions came after Hernández told women to “nourish, clean, and sustain the home” while allowing themselves to be “led by a man.”
The FMF said his comments “promote sexist stereotypes that are considered media violence,” according to the Associated Press. Yet, instead of sitting with that accountability, Chicharito is pushing forward.
Chicharito’s new angle feels like damage control, not reflection
In just a few weeks, Chicharito went from being Mexico’s all-time top scorer to a cautionary tale of how fame doesn’t exempt you from consequences. His pivot from TikTok preacher to pseudo-spiritual thinker comes off less like growth and more like a calculated rebrand.
As his videos rack up millions of views, and María Gómez’s platform grows in tandem, the core issue remains: Chicharito used his platform to spread ideas that reinforce gender hierarchies. And instead of listening to the women and institutions calling him out, he found a woman willing to defend him, and put her front and center.
“Expressing an opinion is no longer about sharing a point of view; it is about risking punishment,” he says.
But if you’re using your opinion to revive patriarchy in the name of “energy,” then yes, people are going to push back. Because being “real” doesn’t mean being right.
