A Basque municipality has decided not to tolerate the promotion of violence against women, even when it comes wrapped in a concert ticket. The Town Council of Orozko (Vizcaya) has cancelled the performance by Dominican singer Henry Méndez, scheduled for this weekend, after discovering that the artist had publicly shown his support for footballer Rafa Mir, convicted of sexual assault.

A show of support that provoked immediate backlash

The trigger was direct: Méndez wrote an encouraging message on his social networks addressed to the Seville player convicted of the crimes in question. That post did not go unnoticed in a context where tolerance towards gender-based violence is increasingly under scrutiny by civil society and public administrations.

According to 20minutos.es, the council assessed the social impact of the message and the criticism already circulating in the municipality. The pressure was such that the decision came quickly: suspend the event for reasons of "coexistence and respect".

Not the first controversy involving the artist

Orozko is not an isolated exception. In other Basque towns, such as Irún, feminist groups and political parties had already called for the cancellation of Méndez's concerts due to similar statements. The singer had sparked controversy both with messages from the stage and with his public backing of the convicted footballer.

This accumulation of incidents painted a picture where the artist was becoming a figure in an increasingly broad controversy, which probably accelerated the hand of the Vizcayan Town Council.

Municipal commitment against gender-based violence

In its official statement, Orozko's Corporation has been clear about where it stands:

• "Firm stance against gender-based violence"
• "Zero tolerance policy towards any manifestation of violence against women"

It is neither a vague nor generic message. The Vizcayan municipality has chosen to turn the cancellation into a clear statement of intent, making it clear that cultural programming will not be available to those who, from the public platform granted to them, question or downplay women's rights.

What happens now?

So far, there has been no word on whether Henry Méndez will issue any statement responding to the cancellation, nor whether other municipalities that had his performance scheduled will follow the same path as Orozko. What is certain is that the decision sets a precedent: in today's Spain, public backing for those convicted of sexual assault comes at an increasingly high cost in public visibility.

The question now is whether this trend will become established or whether we will continue to see controversial artists manage to maintain tours in other towns. Orozko's intransigence may not be the last news of this kind.