Who is Marcelo Corazza, from GH to judicial scandals for corruption

This Wednesday, the trial began against Marcelo Corazza,  former Telefe producer and first winner of Gran Hermano in 2001,  accused of corruption and sexual exploitation of minors. Corazza stated he was "innocent" and assured he was going to "defend himself," while also asking for "all this to end now."

Corazza entered the reality show at 29 years old as a substitute, after Gustavo Jordurcha's resignation. At that time, he worked as a physical education teacher and rugby coach. His victory in the program led him to become part of Telefe's production team.

Career behind the scenes

As a producer, he participated in well-known projects for the channel, such as Mosca y Smith, El primero de nosotros, Bartender, La máscara, and Pequeñas Victorias 2. Until his arrest, he worked in the location department and coordinated the production of Gran Hermano debates, maintaining numerous photos with participants on his Instagram.

One of the most memorable episodes of his public life occurred in 2002, when the program Intrusos, hosted by Jorge Rial, aired a hidden camera that sought to expose his homosexuality. The broadcast caused strong condemnation, even from former reality show colleagues such as Gastón Trezeguet. 

The case and the trial

Corazza was initially detained in 2023, although he was later released. Along with him, three other people were arrested and all were questioned by Judge Javier Sánchez Sarmiento, of the National Criminal and Correctional Court 48.

The trial began this Wednesday in the Federal Oral Court 3 of Buenos Aires. Corazza and the accused Andrés Fernando Charpenet, Raúl Ignacio Mermet, and Francisco Rolando Angelotti face charges for forming an organization dedicated to recruiting minors and vulnerable adults to subject them to sexual relations and exploitation, whether for money or for the personal satisfaction of third parties.

The investigation began after the complaint of two victims who were between 11 and 14 years old at the time of the events. Over time, testimonies from other young people from Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires province, and Misiones were added.  The case file details that the abuses allegedly occurred in private cars, parks, Costanera Sur, country houses in Castelar, temporary lodgings, and private residences.

According to the case, Charpenet and Mermet allegedly recruited and exploited minors, while Corazza was mentioned as a client in a 2001 case, after his victory in the reality show. On October 25, 2023, the prosecution was expanded for another episode of corruption of minors, including chats where Corazza requested personal videos with sexual content from one of the victims.