The pair have voiced their protests against Nicolas Maduro, who used the smash hit song to promote his dictatorial politics in Venezuela.
- Jul 25, 2017
AceShowbiz - Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee have stood up for citizens in Venezuela who have been struggling to be free from president Nicolas Maduro's government. Maduro, who wants to establish a dictatorship in the country with a new constitution, recently used global hit "Despacito" by altering the lyrics for his political ends, and the Puerto Rican singers couldn't just sit in silence and watch it happen.
Fonsi has taken to Instagram to state that he doesn't allow Maduro to use "Despacito" for his "deplorable" purposes. "At no time I've been consulted, nor I've authorized the use or change of 'Despacito' lyrics for political purposes, much less in the deplorable situation that a country that I love as much as Venezuela is in," he wrote. "My music is for all those who want to listen to it and enjoy it, not to be used as propaganda that tries to manipulate the will of people who are crying out for their freedom."
Similarly, Yankee condemned Maduro's action of illegally using his song as a political propaganda. "What can you expect? Of a person who has stolen so many lives from young dreamers and people that what they are looking for is a better future for their children," the rapper shared.
"That you illegally appropriated a song ('Despacito'), does not compare with the crime you commit and have committed in Venezuela," he continued. "It is a mockery, not only for my Venezuelan brothers and sisters, but for the whole world its dictatorial regime. With that nefarious marketing plan, you will only continue to highlight your fascist ideal, which has killed hundreds of heroes and injured more than 2,000."
On Sunday, July 23, Maduro took advantage of "Despacito" popularity to promote a new controversial constitution. He altered the lyrics to tell opponents that the constitution is going to happen, regardless of all the objections. Millions of Venezuelans have been staging months of protests against Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader who was narrowly elected to replace the late Hugo Chavez in 2013.