Rosalia celebrates after winning International Artist of the Year during the 2026 BRIT Awards live show at the Co-op Live Arena in Britain in February. She is facing growing backlash in Argentina for sharing a video related to that country’s defeat in the 2026 World Cup final. Photo by Adam Vaughan/EPA
Spanish singer Rosalía is facing growing backlash in Argentina that has spread beyond social media despite her apologizing for sharing a video related to that country’s defeat in the 2026 World Cup final.
The anger has led to boycott calls, the cancellation of a tribute concert and public attacks by streamers and digital hosts,
The controversy began after Rosalía reposted to her Instagram stories a video by influencer Mia Khalifa, who used the song La Perla to mock Argentina’s loss to Spain in the World Cup final.
El video de Mia Khalifa que compartió Rosalía en TikTok. La cantante tiene cuatro fechas confirmadas en Argentina en agosto. pic.twitter.com/uUABHwuhGe— Corta (@somoscorta) July 21, 2026
The video included the phrase, “What life sounds like now that the pearls have been defeated,” and it includes Spanish flags. In the song, Rosalía uses the term “pearl” to describe a selfish, immature and troublesome person, leading many Argentine users to interpret the repost as a mockery directed at the national team.
The post sparked a strong backlash on social media, where thousands of users criticized the singer and launched campaigns calling for a boycott of the four concerts she is scheduled to perform in August at Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires.
Amid the controversy, Rosalía deleted the post and issued an apology through her Instagram stories.
“I shared it because La Perla was playing and I didn’t even read what it said. My bad. Sorry,” the artist wrote, adding, “I only have love for Argentina.”
However, the apology failed to quell the controversy.
Organizers of the “Rosalía in Concert-Symphonic Ensemble” performance, scheduled for the esplanade of the Metropolitan Museum of Urban Art in the city of Córdoba, announced the event’s cancellation amid the tense atmosphere surrounding the artist.
The museum’s official social media accounts said the tribute would no happen.
Argentine media reported that the decision was driven by concerns over possible acts of violence after the controversy erupted on social media.
The singer also became the target of attacks by Argentine streamers, podcasters and digital hosts, who directed offensive remarks and personal insults at her during livestreams and online programs.
“I’m tired of people treating us like idiots. I hope those who can’t return their tickets and end up going to the concerts boycott her show by singing every song by La T y La M,” said Sofi, one of the hosts of La Trinchera Stream, referring to the Argentine musical duo associated with songs supporting the national team.
Another participant in the program targeted the singer with homophobic insults.
Rosalía was not the only international artist to face backlash from Argentine supporters after the World Cup final. Singers including Dua Lipa, Zara Larsson, Halsey, Lauren Jauregui, Ellie Goulding, Troye Sivan, Iggy Azalea, Farruko and Ryan Tedder also became the targets of online backlash after publicly expressing support for Spain.
Singer Patti Smith also apologized to the Argentine public after deleting a post in which she had described the Spanish national team as “the good guys.” She later shared a photograph of Lionel Messi, calling him “greater than God,” and posted images taken at Recoleta Cemetery, saying Argentina is “a country I love, admire and respect.”
Actor Samuel L. Jackson, meanwhile, sparked a major controversy after sharing an Instagram story that described Argentina as “one of the most racist countries in the world” and urged the Black community not to support the Argentine national team during the World Cup final.
