Italian presenters Barbara D’Urso and Myrta Merlino discuss Mediaset exits

Italian television personalities Barbara D’Urso and Myrta Merlino have shared details regarding their departures from Mediaset.

Barbara D’Urso expressed significant dissatisfaction with her exit from the network in 2023, stating that the decision was not a mutual agreement as previously suggested. She described the treatment she received as being akin to that of a “traitor” and indicated that she intends to seek legal recourse to explain the situation. D’Urso also noted that only five colleagues publicly supported her during the transition, while others remained silent. She mentioned her upcoming role as a judge on ‘Ballando con le Stelle’.

Myrta Merlino, who took over the hosting duties of ‘Pomeriggio 5’ following D’Urso, clarified that her departure from Mediaset was a personal choice rather than a corporate mandate. Merlino stated that she left because the program no longer aligned with her professional identity, describing the move as a necessary “leap into the void” to pursue projects more consistent with her aspirations.