Messages of support for Spain from Rosalía and Patti Smith sparked a backlash in Argentina after the World Cup final, with online criticism, boycott calls and a cancelled tribute concert.
The fallout from the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina has spilled over into music. In just a few days, the singer Rosalía has seen a tribute concert to her work cancelled in Argentina and calls grow for a boycott of her upcoming concerts in Buenos Aires. American artist Patti Smith has also ended up backtracking on a post about the match after receiving a wave of criticism.
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The controversy broke out against a backdrop of high tension after the World Cup final. The match and the days that followed were marked by clashes between fans on social media, traded insults, harassment campaigns against public figures and several rows over the behaviour of some Argentine players and supporters, which sparked a wide debate beyond the country.
Both artists ended up apologising after some Argentine fans interpreted their messages as making fun of the national team. But what exactly did they post, and why has it caused such an uproar?
"My bad": What did Rosalía post and why did she apologise?
The controversy began shortly after the World Cup final, when Rosalía shared on TikTok a video originally posted by influencer Mia Khalifa celebrating Spain's victory. The clip featured "La Perla", one of the songs on the album "LUX", with the caption: "How life sounds now that the pearls have been defeated".
Many Argentine users understood the phrase "the pearls" as a reference to the Albiceleste national team and took the post as mocking their defeat. The video spread quickly on social media before the singer deleted it.
In the face of an avalanche of criticism, Rosalía posted an apology in her Instagram stories. "I hit share because 'La Perla' was playing and I didn't even read what it said, my bad. Sorry," she wrote next to an Argentine flag. In another post she added: "I only have love x Argentina", insisting she had not meant to offend the country.
What consequences has this had for the singer?
The backlash did not stay confined to social media. Some Argentine fans began to promote campaigns to sell on or return tickets for the four concerts Rosalía is due to play in Buenos Aires at the beginning of August, while others called for seats to be left empty as a form of protest.
The most immediate consequence, however, came in Córdoba. A symphonic tribute concert to Rosalía, organised by an independent production company with no connection to the artist, was cancelled after receiving "numerous messages of hate and anger", the organisers said.
Those behind the show stressed that the project had been in preparation for months and that its aim was purely artistic. In a statement released on social media they said they understood the anger after the final because "football is not just a sport, it is part of our identity, our history and our culture", but lamented that the tension had ultimately forced them to call off the event to protect the musicians taking part.
For now, Rosalía's four official concerts in Buenos Aires are still scheduled as announced by the promoter.
What happened with Patti Smith?
American singer and poet Patti Smith also found herself caught up in the row over a post she made after the final. In it she celebrated Spain's victory and described Spain as "the good guys", a phrase many Argentine users interpreted as putting the opposing team on the wrong side.
The criticism multiplied within a few hours and the artist ended up deleting the post. She later shared an image of Lionel Messi and posted a new message saying she had never intended to belittle Argentina or its national team.
Smith also recalled the ties she has maintained with the South American country over many years, expressed her admiration for Messi and said she deeply regretted that her words had been interpreted as a lack of respect towards the Argentine people.
Why has a football final ended up triggering a cultural row?
Although the posts by Rosalía and Patti Smith were different, both ended up forming part of a wider phenomenon that has shaped the conversation after the World Cup final. Argentina's defeat generated huge activity on social media, where celebrations, mockery, nationalist messages and boycott campaigns against various public figures who openly backed Spain all became intertwined.
In that climate, posts that at another time would probably have gone unnoticed took on a much greater political and emotional significance. The rapid spread of screenshots and videos meant the messages circulated far beyond the artists' usual followers.
Both Rosalía and Patti Smith chose to delete their posts and offer explanations, but their apologies have not managed to end the debate; days after the final whistle, the artists' posts are still attracting both criticism and expressions of support.
