Singer deletes repost as controversy emerges ahead of Buenos Aires concerts
BUENOS AIRES: Spanish singer Rosalía has apologised after a social media repost triggered criticism from Argentine fans, who interpreted the post as insensitive following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final.
The controversy erupted after Rosalía reshared a video originally posted by US-Lebanese media personality Mia Khalifa. The clip included the caption, “How life sounds now that the pearls have been defeated,” while Rosalía’s song “La Perla” played in the background.
Although “perla” is a colloquial term in Spain that can describe a troublesome person, many Argentine fans viewed the repost as a reference to their national team’s 1-0 loss to Spain. As a result, the singer faced widespread criticism across social media.
The backlash also extended to a museum hosting a tribute concert dedicated to Rosalía, which said it received a wave of hostile messages following the incident.
Fans express disappointment
Some fans announced they would no longer attend Rosalía’s four scheduled performances at Buenos Aires’ Movistar Arena next month, despite the concerts being sold out.
The Grammy-winning artist later removed the repost and issued a public apology on Instagram.
“I only have love for Argentina,” Rosalía wrote, seeking to clarify that she did not intend to offend her Argentine audience.
Despite the apology, many social media users continued to criticise the singer, with some saying they felt disappointed by her actions.
Concert demand remains strong
While online criticism has been widespread, ticket sales appear largely unaffected. A source involved in ticketing told AFP that refund requests have remained minimal despite the controversy.
According to the source, around 50,000 tickets have already been sold for the Argentine leg of Rosalía’s “Lux” tour.
The singer recently received critical acclaim for her fourth studio album, “Lux,” which marks a stylistic shift from her earlier flamenco and R&B influences. The album features songs performed in 13 languages, including Spanish, English, German and Sicilian, highlighting Rosalía’s continued artistic experimentation as she prepares for her upcoming South American performances.
