Despite the lack of widely verified "exclusive" footage in the public domain, the rumor became a recurring theme used by political opponents to taunt Fariñas and by critics to discredit Velez.

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: Some accounts suggest the tape was leaked deliberately, while others claim it was eventually confiscated or suppressed to protect Fariñas’ burgeoning political career.

In 1982, rumors began circulating that Velez and Farinas had been involved in a romantic affair, which was allegedly sponsored by Betamax as a publicity stunt. The rumors claimed that the two stars had been paid a substantial amount of money to pretend to be a couple, and that their relationship was nothing more than a clever marketing ploy.