Mexican singer Peso Pluma has canceled an upcoming concert in Tijuana this October following death threats made by the Jalisco Cartel – New Generation (CJNG).
The concert was originally announced with great enthusiasm, but that excitement was put to a halt last Tuesday, September 12, when three banners were found in various parts of the city warning the singer to stay away or else face an attempt to his life.
“We as a municipality were not thinking of canceling, but the promoter went ahead of us and we respected the decision,” said Tijuana mayor Montserrat Caballero Ramirez in a statement released by Double P Records, the singer’s independent record label. “We were waiting for the result of the Attorney General’s Office to know if the concert was dangerous or not.”
The incident is representative of a larger problem permeating Mexican music. Corridos tumbados a popular genre born in Mexico have been criticized by not only the president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, but authorities around the country for lyrical content which promotes violence and drug consumption.
“It is very important to tell parents and teachers to watch what their children listen to and why they feel related to this type of violent lyrics, because that is where the problem lies,” added Mayor Caballero.
The cancellation of Peso Pluma’s concert is a painful lesson that has been learned once again in Tijuana – and serves as yet another reminder of the harsh realities which threaten the safety and freedom of musicians in Mexico.