Violence Against Influencers in Mexico: A Closer Look

In Culiacan, the capital of Mexico’s Sinaloa state, a social media influencer was fatally shot during a live stream on Tuesday evening. The victim, César Gastélum, was a well-known personality with over 650,000 followers on TikTok. He often shared comedic content intertwined with regional music, identifying himself in videos as “bélico,” a term linked to cartel culture in Mexico.

The incident took place in a parking lot outside a Kentucky Fried Chicken, where a video showed him with two other men. A motorcycle approached, and one passenger shot Gastélum before escaping. The scene of the attack was within blocks of the local prosecutor’s office, highlighting the boldness of the assailants.

Mexican authorities have suggested the crime is connected to cartel activity but refrained from naming specific groups. Mexico’s Security Cabinet and local prosecutors are investigating, examining Gastélum’s previous references to criminal factions in his videos. President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for the perpetrators’ capture, insisting on justice.

Sinaloa has long been disrupted by rivalries between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel: Los Chapitos and Los Mayos. These groups have left symbolic items, like pizzas or sombreros, on victims as marks of allegiance. Gastélum was wearing a white sombrero on the night of his murder, which could imply his connection to these conflicts.

This is the second incident in recent history where a live-streaming influencer has been killed. Last year, Valeria Márquez, a beauty influencer, was shot while streaming from a salon in Jalisco, another state plagued by cartel violence. These tragedies highlight a disturbing trend of organized crime targeting social media influencers in Mexico.

Security analyst David Saucedo explains that influencers face threats or violence for various reasons. Some may have associations with criminal factions, either through creating content, personal relationships, or financial dealings. Cartels aim to control and shape the narratives within their territories, often using influencers as channels for their messages.

Efforts to address and reduce cartel violence have intensified, with pressure on the Mexican government to take decisive action. This includes addressing the trend of targeting social media figures in areas under cartel influence. However, the complex dynamics between organized crime and digital media remain challenging.