Valentín Yankelevich’s testimony about the physical and psychological violence he says he suffered during his childhood at the hands of his father, Darío Giordano, brought the story of the family Romina Yan formed back to the forefront. In an interview with journalist Tatiana Schapiro for Infobae, the young man retraced the years following his mother’s death and recounted how he and his brothers Franco and Azul found refuge in the home of their maternal grandfather, Gustavo Yankelevich.
Amid that account, there was also room to acknowledge another fundamental figure in his family circle: his grandmother, Cris Morena. Although Gustavo’s prominence was central in his testimony, Valentín made sure to highlight that the producer was also present during that difficult period.
“My grandmother accompanied us a lot as well. A lot. She was an important pillar when we moved to live with my grandfather. She accompanied us and was present,” he expressed when referring to Cris, Romina Yan’s mother and Gustavo’s ex-wife.
Valentín Yankelevich’s acknowledgment of his grandmother Cris Morena
The mention of Cris Morena appeared when Tatiana Schapiro asked Valentín about the bond he had with her. In an interview filled with painful memories, the young man paused to acknowledge his grandmother’s support during the process that followed his departure from his father’s house.
Valentín was seven years old when Romina Yan died, on September 28, 2010. Over time, he stated that he and Franco had endured experiences of physical and psychological abuse by their father, Darío Giordano, which marked their childhood.
In the interview, he explained that both tried to tell what was happening, but initially they did not find the answer they needed. Finally, they turned to their grandfather Gustavo, who listened to them and accompanied them in filing a report. That same day, he and Franco left the house in which they lived.
It was in that context that Cris played a role of support. Without going into detail about the concrete ways in which she helped them, Valentín was clear in recognizing her presence and the importance she had for them during the transition to a new life with their grandfather.
Gustavo Yankelevich, the grandfather Valentín highlighted as his pillar
If Valentín acknowledged Cris Morena’s support, in his account he reserved the strongest words for Gustavo Yankelevich, who took an active role when he and Franco needed to get out of the situation they described.
“My grandfather Gustavo saved my life. He gave me my life back,” he stated during the interview. He then explained why his intervention was so important: not only did he listen to them and accompany them, but he also took care of helping them leave that house and provided the affection and support they needed after losing their mother.
“He gave us the only thing we needed, which was love. Love and support. Nothing more. That is what my grandfather gave us,” he recalled.
The young man also shared that the move to a new home was neither immediate nor easy from a legal standpoint. According to his account, he and his brother filed a report, testified before the Judiciary, and underwent a legal process that stretched over several years until Gustavo obtained permanent custody.
During that period, the producer became a paternal figure for the two boys. Valentín described him as “the best father in the world” and explained that, thanks to the love and support he received, he regained the will to live and began to plan his future.
“My grandfather gave me life,” he reiterated as he remembered the process that allowed him to move forward.
Cris Morena and Gustavo Yankelevich, present in their grandchildren’s lives
Cris Morena and Gustavo Yankelevich are Romina Yan’s parents and the maternal grandparents of Franco, Valentín, and Azul. Although they separated as a couple, both are part of the family history of Romina Yan’s children, who died at 36 in 2010.
In his testimony, Valentín differentiated the roles they held during those years: he highlighted Gustavo for having listened to him, helped him leave the house, and taken on his care, and he acknowledged Cris for having accompanied them and being present when he and Franco went to live with their grandfather.
The mention of his grandmother became part of a broader narrative, in which Valentín decided to publicly share a portion of his childhood that, as he explained, he had kept silent for years. He also noted that one of his goals in speaking out was that other children facing violent situations know they can seek help and that adults should listen to them.
“If the first person doesn’t listen to you, you go to another. And if that one doesn’t listen, you keep going until someone does listen,” he stated during the interview.
With his words, Valentín not only reconstructs a painful period of his life, but also acknowledges the family members who supported him on the path to moving forward. Among them, he highlighted both Cris Morena’s presence and Gustavo Yankelevich’s decisive role, whom he considers one of the most important figures in his life.
