How the crazy theories arose that claim that Luis Miguel is not alive and was replaced by a double

Luis Miguel in the middle of his current tour (REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian)

Maybe one day the mystery will be revealed. Or maybe not. Because the reality is that everything that revolves around Luis Miguel is wrapped in a cloak of doubt. From his conception and his birthplace, to his current whereabouts. And for several years now, there has been an urban myth that claims that El Sol de México, who was actually born in Puerto Rico on April 19, 1970 and turns 54 this Friday, died and was replaced by a double. who continued with the business he had set up.

In his last public appearances, which took place within the framework of the international tour that began successfully in August 2023 and which already has confirmed dates until mid-June of this year, the singer appeared too thin. And there were many who, taking the subject seriously or appealing to humor, began to compare his image with photographs from 2018, the time when the series about his life starring Diego Boneta was launched and which he approved, to reach the conclusion that it was not the same person.

Luis Miguel with Diego Boneta, protagonist of his biographical series (Photo: Instagram)

However, the conspiracy theories that speak of Luismi’s possible death go back several years and give two versions that are as crazy as they are credible, depending on the reader’s predisposition. The first, without a certain date, takes place in the early ’90s, when Carlos Salinas de Gortari was president of Mexico. It is said that, at that time, the singer had begun a romance with Cecilia, one of the former president’s daughters, but that the relationship did not have the approval of the official due to the artist’s alleged addictions. And that everything would have ended in the worst way.

The legend, made known by the journalist Jorge Carbajal and of course never confirmed by anyone, says that the young woman had invited Luismi to a party at the presidential residence of Los Pinos. And that, at a certain point, the Suave interpreter would have begun to feel severe pain in his chest. At that moment, the rest of the guests would have tried to help him without success, so the singer ended up lying on the floor. But then they gave the order to vacate the place, until a doctor announced his death. However, to avoid scandal, this outcome was never officially communicated.

Armando Manzanero with a young Luis Miguel (Screenshot, program “Here it is” with Verónica Castro in 1989)

Thus, after the artist’s body was buried next to the flagpole located in the garden of the place, a double was summoned to take his place and continue with Luismi’s life and career, which By then he had once again positioned himself worldwide thanks to the album Romance that he had released with production by Armando Manzanero. A nonsense? Possibly. But the truth is that, to add more spice to this story, in 2019 the Mexican psychic Deseret Tavares aligned herself with this version by stating on the television program Hoy that the singer had died several years ago by order of a powerful man. who did not approve of a romantic relationship.

The second theory, meanwhile, has nothing to envy of the first. But, in this one, the singer’s supposed death would have occurred in 1992, following a car accident that he was involved in when he was out partying with some friends in Acapulco. And that, after his death, his entourage would have been in charge of falsifying the facts in order to replace him with a double and for him to continue making money for the benefit of all those who lived off his name and his achievements. .

Luis Miguel and his representative, Hugo López, at the end of the ’80s

In favor of this version, the Netflix series reflects a fact in which the singer’s car would have ended up submerged in the sea with all its occupants inside, the veracity of which was confirmed in front of the Mexican media by Jorge El burro Van Ranking , a close friend of the artist. Although the reality is that in fiction there would be some variants, such as the appearance of a young woman named Fabiola who would have gotten the worst of it. And there are no indications that there had been any fatalities, much less that Luismi himself had perished as a result of this.

Some fans, however, began to notice some changes in the artist, who in 1993 released Aries, a new studio album. They said he no longer had the same energy. They were struck by the fact that he no longer sat at the piano at shows. That they did not understand why he had not given more interviews in Italian, a language he had learned from his mother, Marcela Basteri. And that it baffled them that he had become so secretive about his personal life. The answer to all these questions was the same: it was clear that The King had been replaced by an impostor.

Luis Miguel with his mother, Marcela Basteri

The truth is that, beyond these stories that fuel public interest, the reality is that since the exploitation of his father, Luisito Rey, the possibility that he had actually been fathered by Gerald Spencer, cousin of Lady Di, and The still unclarified disappearance of his mother in 1986, Luis Miguel has had to face a life marked by drama. And not in all cases has he had to be the victim: with his daughter Michelle, the result of his relationship with Stephanie Salas, he only had a relationship when he grew up, and with Miguel and Daniel, the children he had with Aracely Arámbula, he has almost no connection. But his success and fame accompanied him even in the worst moments. And it is clear that, although he is known to use doubles to baffle the press in every place he visits, the talent he demonstrates on stage is impossible to match for any imitator, no matter how good he may be.