The Venezuelan singer Carlos Baute has publicly apologized after the controversy generated by his statements during his performance at an event held in Madrid with the presence of the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
The incident occurred last Saturday, when Baute, while performing at the Real Casa de Correos, joined in chants from the audience in which they shouted "Out with the monkey!", in reference to the Vice President of the Government of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez. The expressions provoked a strong reaction on social networks and criticism from different sectors, who considered them offensive and with possible discriminatory connotations.
Public apology and appeal to the heat of the moment
Through a video published on his Instagram account, Baute stated that his reaction was the result of the emotion of the event and the energy of the public: "I got carried away by the emotion of the moment. I joined that chant without measuring it. There are many years of repression, frustration, and lack of freedom", the artist pointed out.
The singer has insisted that he does not consider himself a racist person and rejects that his words reflect his personal trajectory: "I do not believe in insult as a path. It is a specific moment that does not define who I am or what I have built throughout my life", he added.
Baute has also asked for forgiveness from those who may have felt offended and has defended his commitment to democracy in Venezuela, underlining his desire for political change and reconciliation in the country.
Political and diplomatic reactions
The episode has generated an immediate response from the Embassy of Venezuela in Spain, which has condemned the chants and described them as a form of political violence with possible undertones of misogyny and racism. For her part, María Corina Machado, present at the event, has distanced herself from any message of personal confrontation and has focused her speech on the Venezuelan political situation and the need for democratic change.
The debate has also been echoed in the Spanish political sphere, where different voices have called for moderation in speeches at political-cultural events, especially when they involve sensitive international conflicts.