Latin Grammy-winning artist and Democratic congressional candidate Bobby Pulido is facing renewed scrutiny over his past defense of a graphic music video that depicted acts of sexual violence and murder. The resurfaced comments come as Pulido campaigns for Texas' 15th Congressional District, a seat considered one of the country's most competitive.
In a 2016 interview, Pulido, known for his Tejano music hits, defended Gerardo Ortiz's music video for "Fuiste Mía" ("You were mine"). The video portrays a singer who, after discovering his girlfriend cheating, shoots the lover, handcuffs the girlfriend, blindfolds her, gropes her, places her in a car trunk, and sets it on fire.
Pulido, who has won multiple Latin Grammy Awards, described the video as a matter of "artistic direction." He stated, "I've made videos with suggestive images; some have stayed, others have been edited, and still others were never used. That's the decision of the artist and their team." He also drew a parallel between viewers' reactions to such videos and their tendency to slow down to observe car accidents, suggesting a desensitization to graphic content.
This is not the first controversy Pulido has faced during his congressional bid. He has also drawn criticism for previously posting links to explicit websites on his social media and for a social media post that appeared to show him urinating on President Donald Trump's Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Pulido has downplayed these incidents, attributing the former to general internet usage and the latter to a joke involving water.
Additionally, Pulido has had to address past allegations of bringing a registered sex offender to a Texas middle school benefit concert in 2018. His campaign stated he was unaware of the individual's status at the time and dismissed the coverage as insignificant.
Pulido is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz in the upcoming general election. De La Cruz last won the district in 2024. Pulido's campaign has framed the resurfaced interview as a Republican effort to distract voters from what they describe as "real" accusations against De La Cruz, including child abuse allegations made by her ex-husband, which did not result in charges.
Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, criticized Pulido, stating, "Bobby Pulido has spent his entire adult life defending perverts and predators while lashing out at members of law enforcement who keep Texans safe. He is a truly sick individual who is morally rotten."
The election for Texas' 15th Congressional District is scheduled for November 3.