Dominican Bachatero Romeo Santos is without a doubt one of the most talented in the game. However, this doesn’t mean we won’t hold him accountable for problematic lyrics. The remix of 17-year-old La Ross Maria’s “Tu Vas a Tener Que Explicarme,” featuring Santos, was 16 at the time the music video was shot. In the video, the two share many flirtatious moments and coy looks.
The lyrics of the song tell a storyline of Santos waiting until she turns 21 to be with her. This is wildly disturbing as Santos is almost 40 years old, over 20 years her senior. In the remix of the song, Santos expresses a romantic and sexual interest in La Ross Maria. The lyrics have him singing about how many days are left until he can kiss her and build her mansions. He boasts about his wealth alluding that he can provide the young girl financial security. His sexualization of the young star is predatory behavior and exerts his power over her which is despicable.
We can no longer support sexist and downright dangerous lyrics in Bachata music or other Latine musical genres such as reggaeton. These aren’t just songs—they have the power to normalize sexual predator behavior.
The video has been viewed nearly 15 million times on YouTube. The song will influence those who consume the art, including young girls who are fans of La Ross Maria and may think this predatory behavior is normal and even become infatuated with the idea of an older man lusting over them after hearing the jarring lyrics. Santos’ prose perpetuates the sexually violent concept that it’s acceptable for adult men to be attracted to, and have sexual relations, with minor girls—which is illegal. The sexualization of a child is pedophilic predatory behavior.