Actress Laura Zapata, Thalía’s Sister, Criticized for Calling Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ‘Indita’

The actress Laura Zapata has come under widespread scrutiny following comments directed at Mexico’s first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum. During a recent broadcast, Zapata criticized Sheinbaum for flying commercial instead of using a private aircraft while attending an international event. In her remarks, Zapata referred to the president as an “indita,” a term widely recognized as offensive and derogatory, particularly toward Indigenous communities. The comments were followed by further insults that described the president as lacking class and presence.

The statements quickly circulated online, prompting backlash from civil society organizations, human rights advocates, and thousands of users across digital platforms. Zapata later attempted to defend herself by claiming her words were political in nature and not racially motivated. She insisted that flying commercial does not make one humble and accused Sheinbaum of putting other passengers at risk. Her explanation, however, did little to temper the outrage.

Laura Zapata Receives Response from Human Rights Institutions

In response to the controversy, the Office for the Defense of Human Rights of the People of Oaxaca issued a statement rejecting Zapata’s comments. The agency asserted that language reinforcing ethnic stereotypes contributes to symbolic violence and furthers exclusion. According to the agency, any expression based on ethnic origin or skin color is not only morally unacceptable but also subject to legal scrutiny.

The agency announced it would file a formal complaint with Mexico’s National Council to Prevent Discrimination, known as Conapred. The request urges the council to evaluate Zapata’s conduct under the country’s Federal Law to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination. The statement stressed that such language, while often defended as freedom of speech, carries consequences when used to devalue historically marginalized communities.

Legal and Social Consequences

Mexico’s anti-discrimination laws allow for administrative consequences such as fines or public apologies when individuals are found to have violated statutes through discriminatory language or behavior. Although Conapred cannot impose criminal penalties, the agency’s recommendations carry institutional weight. The controversy may also affect Zapata’s professional prospects, as public sentiment continues to shift.

Online discussions have called into question the place of discriminatory speech in public discourse and the boundaries of freedom of expression in Mexico. The country’s legal framework protects individual expression, but not when it infringes upon the dignity of others. The remarks made by Zapata fall into a broader national conversation on the visibility and treatment of Indigenous peoples in Mexico. As public institutions investigate and respond, the case remains a sharp example of how words carry consequences in a shifting cultural landscape.