Gael Garcia Bernal, not put off, speaks again about Morelia attacks

Gael Garcia Bernal, Mexican heartthrob and actor, hasn't been put off by some of the reaction to HIS reaction to the double grenade attack in Morelia, Michoacan, on Sept. 15.

The actor, who is currently attending Morelia's international filmfest to promote the traveling documentary festival Ambulante that he runs with Diego Luna, took the opportunity to speak more about last month's attacks, which Mexican officials blame on organized crime networks.

"It's very important, in these times in which we live, that we don't lose the public spaces, that we don't lose the opportunity to speak, to connect with each other, to talk and reflect on the place in which we live," said Garcia Bernal.

Towards the end of last month, Garcia Bernal wrote a column that appeared on the front page of El Universal here in which he addressed the attacks and reminisced about Morelia, where he spent some of his childhood and where his father was born.

But the column was booed by rival newspaper Milenio.

Jairo Calixto's column said:

"Relax, Gael. Instead of asking, from a very nice place, 'Why, when I see so much violence, do I feel like the aggression was against my memories, and my identity?,' we should celebrate the fact that Mexico, for the third year running, has maintained its position as the 72nd most corrupt country in the world.

"You say, Gael, that it hurts you to be far away. Don't you worry -- they also say that to be far away is to forget."

Speaking yesterday, the Mexican actor reiterated his support for the people of Morelia and said: "If we all pull together on the same side, there's no greater protection against violence."

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City