Kriti Mehrotra
With Netflix’s ‘I’m Still a Superstar’ revisiting the brutal media frenzy Spanish singer Tamara (now Yurena) had to face back in the early 2000s, we get a documentary unlike any other. That’s because it comprises archival footage and exclusive interviews from her once-close friends turned television rivals to underscore every aspect of the scandals she endured. Amongst those to thus feature in this original production is Francisco “Paco” Porras, a clairvoyant (or seer) who claimed to be in a relationship with the national dance-pop sensation.
Paco Porras Has Always Been a Controversial Media Figure
Francisco “Paco” Porras was born into a family of theater producers, reportedly in the heart of Madrid, Spain, in 1958, driving him to develop an innate passion for the industry at an early age, too. He was happy to grow up surrounded by creatives, dummies, props, and show business magic, so of course, he came to have the mindset that anything is possible if you just believe. Thus, when this was combined with the fact that his family allegedly also has a history of metaphysical and parapsychological gifts, he eventually evolved into a professional clairvoyant.
It was around the late 1970s when Paco kickstarted his career, only to gain national prominence much later when he claimed to have the ability to read the future through fruits and vegetables. According to records, he used to vehemently assert he could see one’s future in produce like their turnips, tomatoes, pineapples, cucumbers, carrots, and more, making him extremely unique. It’s thus no surprise that by the late 1990s and early 2000s, he was a regular on the late-night talk show ‘Crónicas Marciana’ where all possible topics were openly discussed.
Little did anybody know that Paco would soon become embroiled in controversies as he announced during one of his birthday parties that his girlfriend was then-rising singer Tamara. However, they weren’t in a romantic relationship in any way, shape, or form – they were just friends who had decided to fool the nation in the hopes of further propelling both their careers. This was followed by a lot of drama, including explosive claims of a pregnancy on ‘Crónicas Marciana.’ Yet, they have both since blamed the other for coming up with this idea that ruined their friendship.
Paco Porras Faded Away From the Public Eye After the Mid-2000s
Paco was a reality television staple for years due to his confrontational and eccentric stints, resulting in him even landing a spot in the 2004 documentary ‘FBI: Frikis Buscan Incordiar,’ which translates to ‘Freaks Looking to Annoy.’ It revolves around those public personalities who had gained popularity through their distinctive, quirky, as well as unmatched time on television. But alas, as time passed, the entire Tamara incident came to a close and the singer also retreated from the limelight for a few years. Ultimately, this parapsychologist’s public presence declined significantly.
We should mention that Paco reiterated in the aforementioned original that metaphysical and supernatural abilities run in his family in the form of noises, buzzing, and strange voices from the beyond. Therefore, when it started for him, he reportedly knew in his heart of hearts this was his calling because “clairvoyance is not a profession. Clairvoyance is a gift that God gives and takes away.” Furthermore, this media-dubbed “Vegetable Seer” has since asserted he never really saw people’s future in the fresh produce he used; instead, they served as a medium of information to him.
Despite Several Personal Issues Over the Years, Paco Remains Dedicated to His Craft
It was in 2015 when Paco began resurfacing after nearly a decade with alleged hopes to reinvent himself in every way as a liquor industry entrepreneur. Yet, it seemingly didn’t pan out at all. In fact, what followed was him admittedly finding himself in financial trouble – he stated during an interview a few years later that he was broke, practically homeless, and facing several health concerns. Unfortunately, his issues persisted to such an extent that he had a heart attack in 2020, only to thankfully be able to recover completely with the help of in-time treatment, rest, and some life changes.
However, things turned from bad to worse for Paco in 2021. That’s when he came forward to reveal he had been a victim of sexual exploitation at a villa in the old coastal town of Altea. As per his statements, he was forced into prostitution under duress after having been called there under the guise of an esoteric session. He said, “I was left penniless… I had to let them prostitute and humiliate me.” Nevertheless, instead of letting his alleged trauma control him, it appears as if the 67-year-old is transforming it into motivation to continue honing in on his craft as a parapsychologist.
In fact, it was in 2022 itself that Paco announced he was now offering divine consultations with the use of mirrors at a charge of €50 per session, with it being flexible in terms of being in person or over a call. Moreover, he is currently one-half of the music duo Porras y Bassi, whose primary mission is to spread compassion, joy, and love, especially in such trying socio-economic times across this world. As if that’s not enough, it seems like he even performs/produces puppet gigs alongside a couple of his loved ones to continue the family legacy, for which he splits his time between Almeria and Madrid. In other words, presently, Paco proudly holds the titles of Artist, Esoteric Specialist, Media Personality, Radio Host, and Parapsychologist.
