On April 12, 2025, the urban duo Charly y Johayron gave a memorable concert at the Watsco Center in Miami, an event that attracted thousands of fans and was deemed a resounding success. The show featured special performances by well-known artists such as Lenny Tavárez, Lenier Mesa, and Divan, which elevated the energy of the show to spectacular levels.
However, one of the most talked-about —and also most controversial— moments of the night was the digital appearance of reggaeton artist El Taiger, who passed away months earlier, through a hyper-realistic projection generated with artificial intelligence. The representation of the artist "came to life" on stage while some of the tracks he recorded with Charly and Johayron were performed, triggering a wave of emotions in the audience and reactions on social media.
The images of El Taiger—realistic and striking—evoked a mix of emotions among those in attendance. Many broke down in tears upon seeing him "present," while messages of tribute continued to flood social media
"I was left speechless, it's as if you were alive, we miss you, José", "How beautiful that turned out, what a pain to see it" or "Forbidden to forget you, Taiger, forever in our hearts"
The audience reacted with profound emotional intensity, applauding the tribute. However, not everyone viewed it favorably.
Hours after the event, the lawyer for one of El Taiger's daughters publicly denounced that the organizers did not have permission to use the artist's likeness in a digital recreation. According to her statements, they had expressly requested that his image not be used, and the family is considering legal actions for a possible violation of rights.
"We believe this constitutes a violation of José Manuel's intellectual rights and his image. This could have been something very special for his children if they had been considered," declared the legal representative.
"We will take legal action and request all necessary measures. They must respect his memory, his artistic work, his image, his family, and his children."
This fact has sparked a debate among the artist's followers, with some in favor of the tribute and others siding with the family, defending their right to control the legacy of the reggaeton star.
The controversy has reopened the debate about the ethical and legal boundaries of using artificial intelligence to recreate deceased figures. While some fans applaud the tribute as a way to keep their legacy alive, others express solidarity with the family, defending their right to control the memory and representation of the artist.
Meanwhile, social media continues to be flooded with messages of admiration and sadness: “Thank you to everyone who won’t let him fade away,” “José, we miss you so much,” or “Justice for El Taiger.”
Frequently asked questions about the tribute to El Taiger at the concert of Charly and Johayron
How was the tribute to El Taiger carried out at the concert of Charly and Johayron in Miami?
The tribute to El Taiger was carried out through a hyper-realistic projection generated with artificial intelligence that allowed the artist to be "revived" on the stage of the Watsco Center in Miami. This digital representation was used while performing songs that El Taiger recorded with Charly and Johayron, evoking a mix of emotions in the audience present.
What reactions did the use of artificial intelligence to recreate El Taiger generate?
The use of artificial intelligence to recreate El Taiger generated a strong emotional impact among the concert attendees, with many breaking down in tears upon seeing the artist "present." However, it also caused controversy, as the reggaeton artist's family did not authorize the use of his image, which has sparked a debate about the ethical and legal boundaries of such recreations.
What has been the impact of El Taiger's death on Cuban urban music?
The death of El Taiger profoundly shook the Cuban urban genre, leaving a significant void in the musical community. His legacy lives on through his songs and the tributes from various artists, who have paid homage to his memory, confirming his lasting impact on Cuban music.
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