During his May 15 concert at the Arena Cañaveralejo in Cali, Colombia, Andrés Calamaro interrupted the performance of "Flaca" to express his support for bullfighting. What seemed like a spontaneous dedication ended in an unexpected reaction from the audience, boos, and an abrupt exit from the stage.
The gesture did not go unnoticed. With open arms and a serious tone, he dedicated the song to "bullfighters, ranchers, banderilleros, and fans who are left without work," and stated:"Because they voted for that, leaving them on the street." After a few more lines, he delivered a strong "goodbye forever" and waved goodbye.
A tense night with an early ending
The concert was part of his 1999 Tour and had started normally. But when he got to "Flaca," one of his most iconic songs, Calamaro made a gesture with his red jacket that evoked a bullfighting cape. The provocation ignited part of the audience, generating immediate rejection.
The episode did not end on stage. The next day, the artist posted on social media an image of a bullfighter statue, accompanied by an extensive text in which he defended bullfighting as a cultural expression comparable to cinema or literature.
"I don't know if fans are the majority in Colombia, but neither is literature the majority and for now, books are not being burned," he wrote, in a parallel that sought to emphasize the legitimacy of bullfighting as part of cultural heritage.
"I am not a killer, nor a bullfighter, nor an animal abuser"
In his message, Calamaro also targeted animal rights groups, whom he accused of aggressiveness and fanaticism. "Bullfighting fans are decent family men who never mistreat animals," he assured.
El extenso mensaje del salmón en su Instagram.
He added: "Unlike animal rights activists who only insult and wish bloody consequences for those of us who freely choose what to do with our time."
The musician clarified that the concert was offered in full, with the 22 planned songs, and that his exit from the stage occurred only during an essential passage. In the same vein, he addressed the closure of the bullring in Cali as a political maneuver driven by an "ignorant minority."
He defended the country's bullfighting tradition
For years, Calamaro has openly expressed his support for bullfighting. It is not a new or opportunistic stance. On the contrary, he defends it even in the face of controversy. "I have supported the existence of bullfighting for centuries and have never been accosted on the street," he emphasized.
He also distanced himself from the accusations: "I am not a killer, nor a bullfighter, nor an abuser. But I eat meat." In a more controversial statement, he even compared the "animal rights fantasy" to Nazi logic and Walt Disney's narrative: "Gastronomy is not perverse mistreatment. It is detachment from the Nazi animal rights activists toward citizens."
He concluded with a clear statement: "I only regretted being in a bullring without bulls. And I stand in solidarity with those who lose their jobs in the field and in the ring."
A clear and coherent message
Beyond the divided reactions, Calamaro expressed himself from his convictions. His message, although uncomfortable for many, was neither improvised nor empty. It represents a firm stance that he has maintained for a long time, with no intention of pleasing or appeasing, but of being consistent with what he thinks.
