Kate Del Castillo Breaks Silence Over Sean Penn’s Controversial Interview with Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman
Mexican actress Kate del Castillo has finally broken her silence after weeks of keeping mum about Sean Penn's controversial interview with notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
Castillo, who's currently under investigation by Mexican authorities in association with a money-laundering probe involving El Chapo and her business Tequila Honor, revealed that she felt "betrayed" and "used" by Penn. According to Latin Correspondent, the 55-year-old actor wrote a Rolling Stone magazine article, detailing his interview with Guzman.
Del Castillo also denied her involvement in arranging the meeting between Penn and El Chapo.
"She didn't know Penn was going to write for Rolling Stone magazine," Castillo's attorney Harland Braun said. "Would you meet with El Chapo and approve to have [that meeting appear] for publication?"
Braun also added that his client was "forced to go along with the interview" after Penn and El Chapo reached an agreement.
"After the interview, she had no choice about it," Braun continued. "Once Penn and Guzmán agreed on the article, what was she going to do about it? She signed off after they had both done so."
Due to the controversial meeting and her connection to El Chapo, the 43-year-old "La Reina del Sur" star is facing questioning. In addition, her tequila business is also under media scrutiny over allegations that El Chapo finances the brand.
The U.S.-based liquor brand, on the other hand, released a statement clarifying its funding.
"Tequila Honor LLC has exclusively been funded by its founders, a group of brand development experts focused on bringing an excellent product to market," the company's statement read, as per The Spirits Business. "As such, Tequila Honor LLC has worked directly with its Tequila vendor the Vivanco family, fourth generation agave growers and producers of Tequila of the highest quality, helping us craft our unique profile which is being produced in an honest and authentic way."
"Ms. Kate del Castillo was invited to take part in this Tequila project as the image of the brand due to her independent spirit and love for Tequila," it added. "Tequila Honor LLC has not been called to testify and intends to cooperate with the authorities as needed."
Meanwhile, del Castillo has failed to attend the preliminary summons in January that were held in her home town in Los Angeles, El Espectador reported. Fortunately on Friday, a Mexican judge granted the actress' petition for an injunction against any arrest linked to a federal probe into her connection with El Chapo.
The Mexico City judge handed down the ruling after del Castillo specified which constitutional protection she was seeking. The judge also asked the federal Attorney General's Office to inform him about its investigation of her relationship with the world's most dangerous drug kingpin, Fox Latino has learned.
Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez also emphasized that the actress is considered as a witness and has not been accused of any crime, People noted.
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