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Peso Pluma’s upcoming participation in the Viña del Mar Festival has unleashed a wave of controversy in Chile, generating a heated debate around the presence of the popular Mexican artist associated with narcoculture. The event, which will close on March 1, has triggered reactions from the government and various sectors of Chilean society, the AFP agency reported.
At 24 years old, Peso Pluma has become the most recognized exponent of corridos tumbados, a modern version that fuses rap and reggaeton influences with traditional Mexican corridos. However, his connection with the “narcocorridos” subgenre, which glorifies drug trafficking leaders and cartel violence, has aroused concern in Chilean society.
The government of President Gabriel Boric has expressed its discomfort at the presence of Peso Pluma in Chile, expressing concern about the promotion of drug culture. Carolina Tohá, Minister of the Interior and Security, stated that although the government does not censor, it seeks to prevent the spread of drug culture in the country.
The controversy intensified when Peso Pluma canceled a show in Tijuana last October due to death threats from the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel, which links him to his enemies in the Sinaloa Cartel. In Chile, the discussion has focused on whether the request to cancel the show constitutes censorship or not.
With thousands of followers, Peso Pluma became the first Mexican to position several songs among the 100 most popular in the United States, according to Billboard magazine. The controversy in Chile has led to reflection on the content of his lyrics, which exalt drug life.
The concern of Chilean society is accentuated amid the increase in homicides and crimes linked to organized crime. The homicide rate has experienced a significant increase, generating a context where the presence of Peso Pluma at the Viña del Mar Festival raises concerns about its impact on social perception.
The sociologist and academic Alberto Mayol, in a press column that fueled the controversy, stated that on March 1 “the voice of the drug trafficker” will be heard on the screens of the State channel. The request for cancellation has found an echo in figures such as councilor René Lues, who urged not to romanticize criminal figures.
Even the president of Chilean National Television, Francisco Vidal, has joined those who advocate suspending the performance of Peso Pluma, emphasizing that the promotion of gangs and drug trafficking is not consistent with common sense.
The organization of the Viña del Mar Festival has not yet commented on the issue. In a context where the Boric government has attacked the culture associated with crime, the controversy around Peso Pluma raises questions about the balance between artistic freedom and social responsibility. ‘Drug culture’ emerges as a central element in drug trafficking communication strategies, according to experts, and the debate in Chile highlights the need to address this phenomenon from a comprehensive public policy perspective.
