The Movistar Arena was full on the night of 1 August, but the usual pre-concert buzz was muted. Fans arriving late debated whether they should have stayed away. “I almost didn’t come, I was offended,” one told a local newspaper. Another said: “I’m still angry, but I hope she apologises.” Rosalía opened with “Sexo, violencia y llantas” at 9.05pm, followed by “Reliquia”, in which she sang the line “El cielo nació en Buenos Aires”. The crowd finally broke into a chant. Then, around twenty minutes into the set, she paused. “Madre mía, qué lío el otro día,” she said, visibly emotional. “I was scrolling, not paying much attention, and I hit repost. Tremenda cagada. It was never my intention.”

The controversy had erupted after the Spanish singer shared a TikTok by adult-film actress and influencer Mia Khalifa that celebrated Spain’s World Cup final victory over Argentina. The post used Rosalía’s song “La Perla”, and the accompanying text referred to “las perlas” – a Spanish colloquialism for troublesome people – being defeated. Argentine fans interpreted the gesture as a direct insult. Calls for a boycott spread across social media within hours, and some fans demanded refunds for the four sold-out Buenos Aires shows. Rosalía deleted the repost and issued a brief apology on Instagram, but the damage lingered.

On stage, Rosalía anchored her apology in memory. She recalled her first performance in Argentina, at the Lollapalooza festival in 2019, when she sang “Pienso en tu mirá” and heard the crowd singing back. “The feeling of ‘you made it’ – the first time I felt that outside my country,” she said. “How could I have a negative feeling toward a place that raised me to where I am today? My love for Argentina remains intact, just like the first day.” The 15,000 attendees responded with a sustained ovation and the chant “Olé, olé, olé, Rosi, Rosi”.

Later in the night, Rosalía invited Argentine singer Ángela Torres into the “El Confesionario” segment of her show, a moment that was filmed by fellow artists Nicki Nicole and La Joaqui, who were in the audience. She also performed “La Perla”, the very song that had sparked the row, and the crowd sang along. Towards the end of the concert she sat at the piano to sing “Alfonsina y el mar”, the elegiac piece popularised by the late Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa. It was a gesture of reconciliation that needed no words.