Thousands of music fans gathered in Central Park for a free concert featuring the Colombian singer and Latin Grammy Award winner Juanes were ultimately disappointed as the event was cut short due to disorderly behavior. In what was to be an evening of music from Colombian singer Juanes and the Mexican band Conexión Divina as part of the popular Summerstage concert series and the Latin Alternative Music Conference, trouble began when the capacity crowd of 5,000 was unexpectedly joined by 12,000 additional attendees attempting to force their way in.
Despite a plea from the singer himself to cease the disorder, the chaotic atmosphere caused by the overwhelming numbers made it necessary for the police to shut the concert down. Juanes, who had only performed two songs, expressed his sadness that the show could not be finished, but also acknowledged that the safety of his fans was the priority. Within minutes, videos of sorrowful fans began to circulate on social media, as well as footage of fans pushing and shoving to try and get into the venue.
Heather Lubov, executive director of the festival, said that in 30 years of Summerstage shows this was the first time that a concert had to be stopped in progress due to issues unrelated to the weather.
Many in attendance were disappointed not to have seen the concert through to the end, but expressed gratitude to Juanes for gracefully dealing with the situation. In a time populated with so many dangerous and unpredictable developments, the NYPD was wise in taking the necessary safety precautions to ensure that no one would be harmed.
These were some of the comments on Instagram from the thousands of fans who were waiting to hear Juanes sing:
“You guys have been trying to have Juanes come to Central Park for 20years! For someone of his artistry and magnitude, better planning should have taken place!NYC is a diverse city made up of a majority of Latinos. Please stop underestimating our musicians and the following that they have. I highly doubt this lack of foresight would have happened with American artists”.
“What is moat unfortunate is not having the foresight and have measures in place to avoid this. As representatives of the latin community, ask yourselves, did you do enough to convey how massive this would be? That NYC is home to an enormous and diverse latin community that adores Juanes? Did you do enough? DO BETTER… DONT GIVE THEM A REASON TO NEVER HOST ARTISTS FOR OUR PEOPLE”.
“That’s unfortunate. With these record breaking numbers and also Karol G breaking records at GMA performance in NYC. Let’s me know Latinos CAN be a force in this country and not have to assimilate or hide. Let’s grow”.
“People just wanted to see and hear Juanes, weren’t gonna cause any violence. If you’re gonna make a free concert make it in an open space like all the flat land there is in Central Park fields and just guard the stage but let everyone come and hear and watch from anywhere. Making it in a venue and blocking ppl like as if it was paid? Very bad planning and organization.”.