Cuban singer-songwriter Amaury Gutiérrez was detained this Tuesday at the Cartagena airport in Colombia following a confrontation with an immigration officer that resulted in him being denied entry into the country. He spoke with journalist Enrique Santos to clarify the situation.
From the immigration holding room where he was detained for several hours along with his manager, Yasir Pérez, Gutiérrez emphasized that he is not the type of artist who seeks scandals. He acknowledged the disagreement but insisted that there were no verbal or physical aggressions towards the involved immigration officer.
"I am not an artist who likes to make headlines; I always focus on my music. This is the first time something like this has happened to me since my recording career began in '97. Even back when I traveled with a Cuban passport, which was a nightmare, I never had any problems," he stated, reiterating that he had never experienced such an issue before.
He explained that for reasons unknown to him, his manager was being denied entry to the country, which upset Amaury. "I intervened in the conversation, perhaps a bit heatedly, but there was no physical or verbal aggression either," clarified the musician, who noted that he referred to the officer as "communist," a remark that did not sit well.
"I told him, 'You are treating us like communists,' and that's when they got angry and told me that I wouldn't be allowed entry either," Amaury recounted. He added that they were separated from other passengers and deliberately delayed so they couldn't return to Miami on the same flight, forcing them to wait until Wednesday for the next flight.
"I am very sorry because it's been a long time since I performed here," he said, referring to his Colombian fans, whom he hasn't performed for since before the pandemic.
In the final part of his conversation with Enrique Santos, during which he struggled with connectivity issues, the Cuban singer reiterated that the reaction was "disproportionate." "People know that I am not an artist who seeks scandals; I always focus on my music. I have my ideals and my clear political stance, but I never disrespect anyone," he concluded.
The incident began with a brief and cryptic Facebook post that read: "Impossible to enter communist Colombia. Goodbye family." Shortly after, Amaury Gutiérrez clarified what had happened in another post, followed by a third one, this time as a statement informing about the cancellation of his tour in the South American nation, which was scheduled to take place in five cities from September 6 to 14.
FAQs About Amaury Gutiérrez's Detainment in Colombia
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the recent incident involving Amaury Gutiérrez at the Cartagena airport in Colombia.
Why was Amaury Gutiérrez denied entry to Colombia?
Amaury Gutiérrez was denied entry to Colombia following a confrontation with an immigration officer. He intervened in a conversation regarding his manager's entry denial, which escalated when he referred to the officer as "communist."
What did Amaury Gutiérrez say about the incident?
Amaury Gutiérrez clarified that while there was a disagreement, there were no verbal or physical aggressions. He described the reaction of the immigration officers as "disproportionate" and expressed regret for not being able to perform for his Colombian fans.
What happened to Amaury Gutiérrez and his manager after the incident?
Amaury Gutiérrez and his manager were detained in an immigration holding room for several hours and were deliberately delayed so they couldn't return to Miami on the same flight. They had to wait until the next day for another flight.