PETA Asks Chayanne to Change ‘Torero’ to ‘Bombero’
Puerto Rican pop singer Chayanne performs in concert during his We Dance Again tour in Panama City, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Ahead of his upcoming concerts in Spain, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) calls out Chayanne. The non-profit organization is asking the Puerto Rican icon to change the title of his iconic song “Torero” to “Bombero,” citing bull-fighting glorification.
For those who haven’t heard “Torero,” it’s one of Chayanne’s most famous songs, released in 2002. The lyrics in question include: “Hay que ser torero / Poner el alma en el ruedo / No importa lo que se venga / Pa que sepas que te quiero / Como un buen torero (ole) / Me juego la vida por ti.” The song is about Chayanne’s willingness to fight for love, regardless of what comes between him and his lover.
Two decades after the song’s release, PETA is urging a lyric change and giving the pop star their recommendation. “Glorifying men who torment and kill animals for entertainment is simply not in tune with modern values,” PETA Europe’s vice president, Mimi Bekhechi, said via EFE. “Instead, firefighters [bomberos] represent courage, dedication and empathy, values that most of us admire. Firefighters save lives by putting their lives on the line and for that, they deserve to be celebrated.” Bullfighting is one of Spain’s most traditional practices that is still legal today.
In the letter published by EFE, Bekhechi also asks Chayanne to change the lyrics because “it could be interpreted as an exaltation of bullfighting.” She also cites that seven out of 10 Spaniards are against bullfighting, which she describes as “bloody events.”
“Associating the word Torero with bullfighting risks giving legitimacy to a practice that many want to abolish,” Bekhechi said in the letter, as reported by Infobae. “An artist with your influence has the power to positively impact the culture, and updating the name of the song would send a powerful message of compassion.”
Chayanne has yet to respond to the letter. Up next, he has a string of shows in Spain as part of his Bailemos Otra Vez Tour. During May and June, he will perform in cities like Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, and more.