The release of a video on social media sparked a major controversy in Colombia after a man was apparently seen filming a music video among the rubble left by the earthquake on August 10 in Pereira, one of the cities hardest hit by the disaster.
The footage shows the alleged artist using the ruins of a building damaged by the earthquake as a backdrop, in a scene that sparked outrage among users of digital platforms.
The case drew criticism because of the context in which it was reportedly filmed. Pereira is still dealing with the aftermath of an earthquake that left hundreds of victims across the country — 331 deaths are officially recognized as of today — and that, in this city alone, caused around 100 deaths.
Amid recovery efforts and the mourning of affected families, using a site associated with fatalities as the setting for a music production was considered by many users to be disrespectful to those who lost their lives and their relatives.
Criticism over alleged music video filmed among earthquake ruins
The video that sparked the controversy began circulating on social media and shows a man performing a song while standing among the remains of the Lorena residential complex in Pereira, one of the areas affected by the earthquake. According to the footage that was shared, the singer appears posing and singing while using the destroyed structure as part of the setting.
The song’s lyrics also caught the attention of those who watched the recording. During the segment that went viral, a chorus can be heard repeating the phrase “the end is coming,” an expression that some users considered particularly inappropriate when accompanied by images of an area devastated by the earthquake.
The post quickly prompted comments and questions. The main debate focused on the decision to turn a site of death and destruction into the setting for an artistic production just weeks after the disaster.
Criticism multiplied as the video was shared across different platforms. Some users questioned what they viewed as a lack of sensitivity in filming a music production amid collapsed buildings and rubble that remain part of the landscape of a city struggling to recover.
The controversy also sparked a broader discussion about the limits of content produced for social media. In a context where striking images can quickly become viral content, some users believe there is an added responsibility when locations associated with recent tragedies are used.
The debate, however, is not limited to the recording that sparked the backlash. According to the report that documented the case, other musical performances filmed among the rubble received a different response. While some users interpreted one performance as a message of hope, the performance by the man featured in the controversial video sparked outrage.
Pereira is still living with the consequences of the earthquake
The controversy comes as Pereira and other cities in western Colombia continue to face the consequences of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck on August 10. Search efforts, assistance for those affected, and recovery work in the impacted areas have taken place amid an emergency that left hundreds dead and thousands injured in different regions of the country.
Pereira became one of the main focal points of the emergency because of the number of structures affected and victims. In the days following the earthquake, rescue teams and volunteers worked among collapsed buildings to locate missing people and survivors.
That is why the appearance of a music video filmed among the ruins struck a particularly sensitive nerve. For many Colombians, the rubble shown in the images is not simply a visual backdrop, but the place where families lost their homes and where others endured the anguish of searching for their loved ones.
Despite the multimillion-dollar investments promised by the government and the private sector, the city is still trying to regain a sense of normalcy that is beginning to emerge, for example, with the resumption of classes, but whose absence is still very evident in something as simple as walking through the streets of the capital of Risaralda department.