The recent debut of a teleplay meant to honor the late Cuban reggaeton artist, José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar, widely known as El Taiger, has ignited a storm of backlash on social media. Directed by actor and filmmaker Alberto Yoel García, the production was intended as a tribute to the musician's life. Yet, it has faced severe criticism for both its quality and the lack of family consent.
The teleplay emerged as an alternative after the indefinite postponement of a film inspired by El Taiger's life. Scheduled for release in February 2025, the film was halted due to the absence of an agreement with the artist's family and the inability to secure rights to his music. Confronted with these challenges, the director chose to release a fictional work, a decision that further fueled discontent among the reggaeton star's fans.
Since its premiere, the teleplay has been heavily criticized on YouTube, where viewers have voiced their displeasure over what they perceive as an inappropriate use of the artist's image. Remarks such as "What poor quality, with so many good things José had, they only make this garbage" and "A massive disrespect, especially when the murderer is in prison and his death remains unresolved" highlight the public's frustration.
The complaints extended beyond the content to the technical execution and the cast's performance. Some users deemed the production disappointing, with criticisms like "If you're going to do something, do it right and research more, this is shameful, and the actors are terrible," while others mocked the recording quality, saying, "It looks like this was filmed with a 2000s Nokia keypad phone."
In response to the overwhelming criticism, the teleplay was removed from its original YouTube channel. However, this didn't stop other users from re-uploading the video on various platforms, keeping the debate and controversy surrounding its content very much alive.
Controversy Surrounding El Taiger Tribute Teleplay
Why did the teleplay receive backlash?
The teleplay was criticized for its poor quality and for not having the consent of El Taiger's family. Viewers also found the depiction of the artist's image inappropriate.
What happened to the original film about El Taiger?
The film was postponed indefinitely due to the lack of an agreement with El Taiger's family and the inability to secure the rights to his music.
How did viewers react to the teleplay?
Viewers expressed their dissatisfaction, citing poor production quality and disrespect towards El Taiger's legacy.