Edey Martín could never have imagined that the Piñata Saturday of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival would lead to him returning home transformed into the new Risto Mejide. Nor did he anticipate being interviewed by the renowned television presenter and publicist on the show Everything is a Lie, aired on Cuatro, despite the enormous impact that his costume had when it went viral on TikTok. Martín shared his experience of his carnival success on Willy García and Gara García’s Good Morning Canary Islands show on Atlántico Radio this Wednesday.
It all began in a restaurant. “My niece left her distinctive glasses on the table, and out of laziness, I put them on,” explained the Tenerife mechanic and spare parts seller. The surprise from his family was immense when they saw him. “Hey, you’re Risto!” they exclaimed. “People at other tables started laughing and I overheard them saying ‘you’re worth it,’ and in the background, someone said ‘for me, it’s a no.’ That was the moment,” he recounted.
The Spontaneously Crafted Costume
The theme of the Chicharrero Carnival being “Television” and the lack of time to purchase a costume led Edey Martin to portray Risto. “On that Saturday, I rushed to the store and found nothing suitable. In the DIY section, I stumbled upon the inflatable part, which was a walker for the elderly. I grabbed it and did the electrical installation,” he detailed.
Martín completed the costume in just an hour and a half, rushing through the process. The attire was now ready, resembling something from the set of Got Talent, where Risto Mejide serves as a jury member. He then took to the streets to embrace the ambience. It was in the popular Orche area where a bystander, @ruthramos297, captured the moment and later shared the video on TikTok.
@ruthramos297 ♬ original sound – Ruth Ramos
Unexpected Recognition and Attention
By Sunday morning, Edey Martín was alerted by his friend Ayoze that the video had gone viral. “I went to bed and woke up the next day to an avalanche of notifications on social media, calls, and messages,” shared the new Risto from Tenerife, finding amusement in the situation.
When he received the call from Everything is a Lie, his initial thought was that it might be a prank by a friend. “I couldn’t fathom it was true,” he admitted. Regarding the interview, Edey Martín had only positive remarks, as “Risto was incredibly gracious to me.” Nonetheless, he confessed, “The best feeling and what I appreciated the most was being able to showcase our Carnival from such a distance.”
