Ángela Aguilar, one of the most prominent voices in regional Mexican music, has once again found herself at the center of controversy. The 20-year-old singer announced that part of the proceeds from her upcoming Libre Corazón Tour 2025 in the United States will benefit migrant communities—an initiative that has sparked more criticism than praise.
While Aguilar’s stated intent was to support vulnerable populations, the backlash came swiftly after reports revealed that the donation would amount to just one dollar per ticket, including meet-and-greet passes. The revelation, widely circulated after a viral TikTok video by activist Carlos Eduardo Espina, ignited a firestorm across social media platforms.
“As a Mexican-American, I can’t ignore what’s happening around me,” Aguilar wrote on Instagram. “That’s why a portion of the proceeds from these 17 dates will go to support migrant communities in the United States who face injustices every day.”
Aguilar’s 17-city tour, set to kick off October 24 in Newark, New Jersey, and end December 13 in Las Vegas, includes stops in major cities like Houston, Denver, Tucson, Chicago, and San Antonio. Before the tour launch, she will also perform on August 15 and 16 in Los Angeles with her father, Pepe Aguilar, and brother as part of Los Aguilar Sinfónico, accompanied by the Venezuela Philharmonic Orchestra.
According to Billboard, the $1-per-ticket donation will go to the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), a nonprofit supporting the rights and well-being of migrant workers.
Despite the charitable angle, the public response has been overwhelmingly negative. Many fans and critics argue that the donation amount is disproportionately low, especially considering ticket prices range from $89.45 to $255.25.
“A lot of people say that one dollar is nothing, especially when tickets are being sold for $70, $80, or even $90,” said Espina in his viral TikTok video, which has over 13 million followers. “Some even consider this donation a joke, while others say Ángela Aguilar is using migrants to sell tickets.”
The criticism escalated as hundreds of users flooded Aguilar’s official social media accounts with sarcastic and angry comments.
“We might as well give her a dollar not to perform.”
“One dollar is truly a joke — she should’ve said nothing at all.”
“If she sells 1,000 tickets, that’s only $1,000 — not even enough for a first consultation with an attorney.”
“One dollar? She’d have to sell millions of tickets for it to be meaningful.”
Some have even mocked her by calling her “Ángela Panini” and accusing her of exploiting a politically sensitive issue for personal gain.
As of now, Aguilar has not issued a public response to the growing controversy. Her silence has only intensified scrutiny, with critics pointing to the gap between the emotional weight of her announcement and the modest scale of the donation.
The backlash also reflects the deep emotional resonance that immigration issues hold within the U.S. Latino community—particularly when it comes to high-profile artists who claim to champion those causes.
Aguilar’s Libre Corazón tour marks a new chapter in her young career, but if the response to her donation announcement is any indication, her path forward may require not just music, but a more transparent and thoughtful approach to the causes she supports.
