Matera Fiction Festival director denies apologizing to Fabrizio Corona

Giuseppe Papasso, director of the Matera Fiction Festival, has issued a formal denial regarding reports that he apologized to Fabrizio Corona following a heated confrontation at the Guerrieri Theatre on October 11.

The incident involved a sharp exchange between Corona and journalist Barbara Tarricone. During the debate, Corona reportedly called Tarricone “incapable,” while Tarricone characterized his methods as those of a “bully.”

Papasso clarified that the event was organized to discuss the docuseries ‘Io sono notizia’ rather than Corona’s online format ‘Falsissimo.’ He emphasized that the rumors of an apology to Corona are “entirely without foundation,” noting that such a gesture would have implied the festival was taking sides against its own moderator.