Rosalía faced intense criticism in Argentina after sharing a video celebrating Spain’s World Cup win. The incident sparked calls for a boycott of her Buenos Aires concerts. The singer has now publicly apologized.
Rosalía has found herself at the center of a heated controversy in Argentina after sharing a video on social media that many interpreted as mocking the national football team. The Catalan singer reposted a clip originally published by influencer Mia Khalifa, which showed Khalifa celebrating Spain’s World Cup victory from a New York balcony. The video featured Rosalía’s track La Perla and included text suggesting that life had changed now that “las Perlas”—a reference to the Argentine team—had been defeated.
The reaction in Argentina was swift and intense. Social media platforms were flooded with criticism, with many users accusing Rosalía of disrespecting the Argentine squad. The backlash escalated quickly, and despite the singer deleting the post soon after, the incident had already gained significant traction. Calls for an organized boycott of her upcoming concerts in Buenos Aires began to circulate, with some fans demanding ticket refunds and others proposing to leave the venue empty as a form of protest.
Rosalía’s tour in Buenos Aires is scheduled to begin on August 1, with four concerts planned at the Movistar Arena. The timing of the controversy has added uncertainty to the events, as the scale of the online reaction has left organizers and fans questioning whether attendance will be affected. In response to the mounting criticism, Rosalía broke her silence with a brief message on her social media accounts. She explained that she had shared the video because her song was playing in the background and had not paid attention to the accompanying text or its implications. Her apology was accompanied by an image of the Argentine flag and a second post expressing affection for Argentina.
The uproar continues to dominate discussions in Argentina, with social media users debating the incident and speculating about its impact on the upcoming concerts. The controversy has also fueled broader conversations about the World Cup final and the rivalry between Spain and Argentina. Similar tensions were observed during public events in Spain, such as when a World Cup screening in Bilbao was disrupted by protesters, as reported in coverage of disturbances at a PP event in Bilbao.
Rosalía’s situation highlights the sensitivity surrounding international sports rivalries and the influence of social media on public perception. While the singer’s apology may help ease some tensions, the full effect on her Buenos Aires concerts remains uncertain. The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly online actions can escalate into real-world consequences, especially when national pride is involved. In the context of Spain’s ongoing cultural and sporting exchanges with Latin America, such episodes underscore the importance of careful communication by public figures.
