DistantNews
Valentín Trujillo and Lucía Méndez: The romance that almost reached the altar and ended in an ultimatum
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Valentín Trujillo and Lucía Méndez: The romance that almost reached the altar and ended in an ultimatum

From El Universal · (48m ago) Spanish Mixed tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Mexican actors Valentín Trujillo and Lucía Méndez had a highly publicized romance in the 1970s, starring together in films and photo novels.
  • Despite being engaged, their relationship ended when Trujillo issued an ultimatum: marry him or he would marry someone else, leading him to wed another woman just eight days later.
  • Trujillo later expressed fondness for Méndez, calling her a wonderful person and remembering their time together fondly, while Méndez acknowledged the romance significantly boosted her fame.

The tale of Valentín Trujillo and Lucía Méndez's 1970s romance, as recounted, is a classic Hollywood-esque drama played out against the backdrop of Mexican cinema's golden era. Their on-screen chemistry in films like 'Cabalgando a la luna' translated into a passionate off-screen relationship that captivated the public, fueling the success of their joint appearances in photo novels and film magazines.

I have very fond memories, Lucía is a wonderful person, we had a romance of more than three years, we had a great time, I love her very much, I respect her very much, I respect her very much as an actress, I am very happy that she has triumphed as she is triumphing and continues to triumph; it was a very beautiful time of my life.

— Valentín TrujilloValentín Trujillo reflects on his past relationship with Lucía Méndez.

Trujillo, known for his 'man of the people' persona—strong, protective, and charismatic—was a significant star. Méndez, who benefited greatly from the association, found herself in the whirlwind of fame that accompanied such a high-profile romance. The narrative of their near-marriage, ending with Trujillo's ultimatum and swift remarriage to Patricia María, adds a layer of dramatic tension, highlighting the personal sacrifices sometimes demanded by burgeoning careers or perhaps the complexities of relationships under the intense spotlight of stardom.

And he says to me, 'Either you marry me or I'll marry someone else,' and I say, 'Well, marry someone else,' and he marries someone else eight days later.

— Lucía MéndezLucía Méndez recounts the ultimatum given by Valentín Trujillo that ended their engagement.

Trujillo's later reflections on Méndez, describing her as 'wonderful' and their time together as 'very beautiful,' suggest a mature perspective on a past relationship. Méndez's own account, where she felt 'frozen, petrified' witnessing Trujillo's immense popularity, underscores the intense public adoration he commanded. This story, preserved by El Universal, serves as a nostalgic reminder of a beloved era in Mexican entertainment and the enduring allure of celebrity romance.

I am frozen, petrified, I said, 'Well, who is this guy I'm with?'.

— Lucía MéndezLucía Méndez describes her reaction to witnessing Valentín Trujillo's immense popularity among fans.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog