Maná has removed all traces of their collaboration with Nicky Jam from streaming services after the latter appeared at a Donald Trump campaign rally over the weekend. The reggaeton singer, originally from Puerto Rico, publicly endorsed Trump for president at a rally in Las Vegas on Sept. 13, with the presidential candidate mistakenly introducing the Latin Grammy winner as a woman. “Latin music superstar Nicky Jam,” Trump said. “Do you know Nicky? She’s hot!”
On Sunday, Maná uploaded a statement to their social media channels announcing the removal of their collaboration with Jam from streaming platforms. The image used in the post was of white and red text that read, “Maná doesn’t work with racists.”
In the caption, the band wrote in Spanish, “For the past 30 years, Maná has supported and defended the rights of Latinos around the world. There is no business or promotion that is worth more than the dignity of our people. That is why today Maná decided to remove its collaboration with Nicky Jam on ‘Pies a Cabeza’ from all digital platforms.”
Maná and Jam recorded a reggae version of the Mexican rock group’s 1992 song “De Pies a Cabeza” in 2016. The song was a mainstay on Latin music radio channels, with both artists promoting the single, and Jam specifically calling Maná his “idols.”
Representatives for Nicky Jam did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
In an interview with Billboard, Jam recalled, “I’ve always wanted to work with Maná, I’ve been a fan of them since I started singing reggaeton in 1992. They were already my idols and today they continue to be. I never thought I’d work with them so this is a blessing.”
Jam is one of YouTube’s most watched Latin artists of all time, while his last chart-topping si“El Perdón” began a run of nine entries on the Hot 100 for him, and two of his albums, 2017’s Fénix and 2019’s Intimo, charted on the Billboard 200.
Jam recently released an album called “Insomnio,” including collaborations with Sean Paul, Feid, Trueno, Eladio Carrion and more. His last and highest-charting Hot 100 single was “Otro Trago” (No. 34) with Sech, Darell, Ozuna and Anuel AA.
Jam is only the latest music star to show support for Trump. In the last month, Puerto Rican reggaetón stars Anuel AA and Justin Quiles supported Trump at a rally in Johnstown, Penn. Billy Ray Cyrus, Jason Aldean and Kid Rock have also shown support for the former president.
Source Agencies
