Musician José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, better known as J Balvin,’s song ‘Perra’ has been removed from Youtube on the grounds that it perpetuates racism.
Musician J Balvin’s Song Has Been Banned From Youtube For Perpetuating Racism Causing The Colombian Vice President To Speak Out
The song was released on the platform last month but immediately received backlash at the manner in which it was displaying black women.
In the footage, the singer was apparently walking alongside two black women on leashes, while the other artist (Tokischa) on the track was posing in a dog’s kennel. Balvin’s team acted immediately to remove the video but have refused to comment on the reasons as to why they have done so.
Núria Net, who happens to be a major journalist, criticised this move with the following comments: “Taking it down from YouTube without making any kind of statement or mea culpa is very cowardly and does not solve anything.”
In order to save face, the musician still has an audio version of the track available for his fans. And yet, this move is seen as a significant blow to his career for several reasons.
First of all, Balvin’s album ‘José’, which included this song, reached No. 1 on Billboard in the Latin Albums category. Therefore, this controversy is going to draw away any new fans that would have otherwise emerged.
It is not clear whether there are going to be any financial consequences as a result of brands cutting ties with the singer. However, given that we are living in a cancel culture, the news will certainly tarnish his reputation.
Secondly, the news made major headlines as the Vice President of Colombia, Marta Lucia Ramírez, had to speak out and address the significant criticism that the song had put on its nation.
In a letter to the citizens of the country, she wrote: “Direct and openly sexist, racist, machista and misogynistic expressions that violate the rights of women, comparing them to an animal that must be dominated and mistreated.”
The song has highlighted that there are restrictions over what artists can say, but where that boundary is drawn is always going to change. And if public opinion is not on side, then the chances of that leaving a good impression are minuscule.
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