The renowned Argentine musician Andrés Calamaro became the center of controversy in Cali, Colombia. He performed at the Arena Cañaveralejo in that city and was booed after defending bullfighting.
As part of his Agenta 1999 Tour, the singer interrupted the performance of his iconic song “Flaca” to publicly express his support for bullfighting.
However, the practice is prohibited in the Latin American country since the approval of the law “No más Olé” in 2024. This generated a negative reaction from the audience and led to him leaving the stage.
Andrés Calamaro, center of controversies and booing in Colombia
Calamaro dedicated the song Flaca to “all bullfighters, breeders, picadors, and fans who are out of work.” This provoked a negative reaction from the audience present.
Andrés Calamaro and a strong controversy in Colombia. (Photo: Wikipedia).[/caption>
Because the law “No más Olé” prohibits bullfighting, novilladas, becerradas, and rejoneo throughout the country. Additionally, it came after many demands and social activism in favor of animal rights.
Faced with the boos, the singer stated: “I’m sorry, they’re canceled, goodbye forever.” This sparked a strong controversy and all kinds of exchanges on social media and in the media.
However, this incident is not isolated for Calamaro. In previous performances in Medellín and Bogotá, he also expressed his support for bullfighting, which provoked similar reactions from the audience.
In Medellín, for example, the singer was booed after declaring: “I hope La Macarena is filled with bulls again and all the bullrings in Colombia too.”
These statements generated a strong rejection among attendees, who consider the practice to be cruel and outdated for today’s times.
Bullfighting and a strong debate
Calamaro’s stance sparked debate in various sectors of society. Animal rights organizations criticized the artist for promoting an activity that involves suffering and the death of animals.
Senate approved in second debate a bill banning bullfighting in Colombia in 2024.
On the other hand, some of his followers expressed their support for his right to express his opinion and freedom of speech.
However, ultimately, the performance was overshadowed by his support for bullfighting, a practice rejected by a large part of the Colombian public.
