A surge of support has flooded social media in favor of the urban music duo Charly & Johayron after a lawsuit was filed against them for using the likeness of the late Cuban reggaeton artist, El Taiger, with artificial intelligence during their recent concert in Miami.
The controversy arose when a digital representation of El Taiger appeared during the duo's performance at the Watsco Center, intended as a tribute to the artist. However, the mothers of El Taiger's children, through their legal representatives, accused the musicians of unauthorized use of his image, sparking a heated debate about the posthumous use of public figures' likenesses with technological tools.
Meanwhile, on social media, fans have rallied in defense of Charly & Johayron, asserting that their aim was to honor the memory of the artist and keep his musical legacy alive. The comments reflect a collective sentiment from the audience, who still cherish the impact El Taiger made on Cuban urban music.
"All those guys did was keep alive the legacy of the best in the world. El Taiger deserves to be honored every day for everything he gave us with his music," one fan expressed. Another added, "Their eagerness to monetize everything related to El Taiger will only lead to forgetting him. Charly & Johayron don't need José's image to fill a concert; those guys are already a hit."
Further comments included, "Charly & Johayron simply paid tribute to a public artist who is no longer with us. It's important to remember these women weren't with El Taiger, and it's quite problematic to think these guys weren't doing this from the heart." Another fan noted, "There was no disrespect in what they did. Instead, we should be thankful they're keeping his legacy alive."
The primary concern among many fans is that disputes like these could eventually extinguish El Taiger's musical legacy. "All they're doing is keeping José's legacy alive, something they aren't doing," one fan commented. "They need to stop restricting and give more of José to his audience; he always loved being free," stated another. "God, how far will this go? While some want to keep El Taiger's legacy alive, others argue about what can or can't be done. I'm sure José Manuel wouldn't agree with what they're doing with his image," expressed a frustrated fan. "The only outcome will be that no artist will want to pay tribute to José, effectively ending El Taiger's legacy because they're wasting time suing artists who are merely keeping José present in their concerts."
As of the time this article was written, Charly & Johayron have not issued an official statement regarding the lawsuit against them.
Debate on AI and Posthumous Image Use
Why was Charly & Johayron sued?
They were sued for using a digital likeness of the late reggaeton artist El Taiger with artificial intelligence during their concert without authorization from his family.
What was the fans' reaction to the lawsuit?
Fans have largely supported Charly & Johayron, believing their intention was to honor El Taiger and preserve his legacy, rather than disrespect his memory.