When it comes to Latin@ superstars, you really can’t get any bigger than this.
From Billboard:
Grammy-winning producer Emilio Estefan has enlisted an all-star small army of famous friends — including Shakira, Carlos Santana, Thalia, Pepe Aguilar and his wife, singer Gloria Estefan — to combat the spate of anti-Mexican rhetoric that Donald Trump sparked earlier this summer.
Estefan, 62, tells Billboard exclusively that, after listening to a TV talking head make false and vindictive anti-Latin statements on TV, he has rounded up dozens of Latin celebrities to record “We’re All Mexican,” which he describes as a musical “celebration of Hispanics and our accomplishments.” The track, set to be released later in September, will also include reggaeton singer Wisin, Wyclef Jean, radio personality Enrique Santos and famed Spanish-American chef José Andrés, most of whom will be rapping on the record.
“There’s a message being sent out to the world where people are giving opinions that are plain wrong,” says the Cuban-American Estefan, who has won 19 Grammy awards. “We need to lift up our pride and show the world what we’re doing.”
Late last month, Grammy-winning entertainer Ricky Martin also slammed Trump as “racist, absurd, and above all incoherent and ignorant” in a stinging Univision op-ed after the candidate booted journalist Jorge Ramos from a press conference:
Let’s show that our Latin race is to be respected, let’s not allow a political hopeful to plant his campaign in insult and humiliation. Let’s demand respect for those first generations of Latinos who came to the United States and opened a path for us. We have fought for every right that we have today.
Xenophobia as a political strategy is the lowest you can go in search of political power.
In a recent Fox News Latino interview, “24” and “NYPD Blue” actor Esai Morales said Trump doesn’t care for or respect the Latino community:
“I feel bad that Trump, this incredible talent at gaining attention, can’t be apologetic about the way he framed the issue. He could have said, ‘I’m sorry that it sounded that way, I’m sorry that I said it this way, what I mean is …’ No, he doubles down. So what that shows us is that he doesn’t care and he’s not respecting the Latino community,” the actor told FNL. “Notice he doesn’t say that about other communities. He doesn’t attack the corporations that export jobs out of our country or the banks that have taken trillions of dollars out of our economy, much more than any illegal immigrant groups of people. He knows who to pick on … and it’s the humble people. The people who are desperately trying to survive.”
And in some last Trump-related musical news, rock group R.E.M. bashed Trump and Ted Cruz for using their song at their anti-Iran deal rally earlier this week (where DREAMers were also attacked):
“Go f*ck yourselves, the lot of you — you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men,” Stipe said in an email to The Daily Beast. “Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.”
The band’s post on Facebook was slightly more diplomatic:
“While we do not authorize or condone the use of our music at this political event, and do ask that these candidates cease and desist from doing so, let us remember that there are things of greater importance at stake here,” R.E.M. said.
“The media and the American voter should focus on the bigger picture, and not allow grandstanding politicians to distract us from the pressing issues of the day and of the current Presidential campaign.”
