The Controversial 1990s Telenovela ‘Alejandra’s Secret’ Canceled Due to Organ Trafficking Storyline
In the late 1990s, Rodrigo Vidal’s career was at its peak. He had been part of the main cast of several of Televisa’s most successful telenovelas, including ‘Baila With Me’, ‘Salomé’, ‘Two Women, One Way’, ‘Amigas y Rivals’, ‘Until Money Separates Us’, and ‘El privilege of loving’. However, there was one production that did not reach the same level of success, and that was “Alejandra’s Secret”.
‘Alejandra’s Secret’, a production by Jorge Lozano Soriano for Televisa, starred María Sorté, Leonardo Daniel, Rodrigo Vidal, Lisette Morelos, David Ostrosky, Norma Lazareno, Macaria, and Karyme Lozano. The telenovela premiered on December 1, 1997, but after just 25 episodes, it was abruptly taken off the air on January 2, 1998. The reason for its unceremonious cancellation was due to the controversial topic it centered on: organ trafficking.
In a recent interview, Rodrigo Vidal revealed that the government ordered the telenovela to go off the air due to its focus on organ trafficking. Vidal mentioned that the production team had over 120 episodes recorded at the time of the cancellation. This decision came as a significant blow to the cast and crew, as they had been dealing with a topic that was considered taboo at the time.
Leonardo Daniel, another actor in the telenovela, described the cancellation as “a very hard blow for everyone” and mentioned that the cast had great hopes for the production. Despite the abrupt ending, almost 100 remaining episodes had been recorded and were ready to be broadcast. However, they were ultimately discarded.
Rodrigo Vidal expressed regret over the cancellation, emphasizing that the telenovela had a great story and a strong cast. He believes that the show’s premise would not be as controversial in today’s television landscape and suggested that it would be accepted by modern audiences.
While ‘Alejandra’s Secret’ may have been ahead of its time, the unfortunate cancellation has become a footnote in the history of telenovelas. It stands as a testament to the challenges faced by productions that tackle controversial themes.