New Year’s Eve concert in Miami sparks war of words between Joe Carollo and Noelia
The day before a New Year’s Eve concert in Bayfront Park, Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo and Puerto Rican singer Noelia traded barbs in the media after the pop star canceled her appearance.
Carollo, chairman of the agency that manages Bayfront Park, has helped organize a concert with several Latin music performers for New Year’s Eve. Noelia was originally scheduled to perform, but she backed out about a week before the event and on Tuesday shared the news of her cancellation with her 1.5 million followers on Instagram, stressing the importance of public health.
Noelia told Miami New Times in a story published Thursday that she pulled out of the festivities because of the spread of COVID-19, calling the event “irresponsible,” and alleging that Carollo and his wife Marjorie, who is helping to organize the event, sent a mutual friend to ask Noelia to keep quiet about her withdrawal from the concert.
“I understand people need entertainment, but at the same time, we should not encourage mass gatherings where people could get infected. It’s very irresponsible to have this event during this omicron spread,” Noelia told New Times.
At a press conference Thursday promoting the event, Carollo snapped back at the singer. He called her account of events an “absolute lie,” saying she was upset that she was not being promoted as a headliner for the event. Carollo showed screenshots from his wife’s phone that purportedly show the singer’s angry text messages railing against the event’s organizers for putting her name and headshot in the second row of performers on advertisements.
“Putting people over me who don’t even have careers,” she allegedly wrote. “I’ve never been on a poster with people below my level. You all will not disrespect me anymore.”
Other artists scheduled to perform at the event include Willy Chirino, Gente de Zona, Nacho, Yotuel, Chacal, and Lena y Malena Burke.
“I’m sorry that she feels she’s above all these other artists, that she’s better than them,” Carollo told reporters. “But these artists are also established artists.”
Carollo also showed screenshots of texts purportedly from her husband and manager, Jorge Reynoso, where he asked if Noelia’s set time could be moved because she had a separate engagement to attend on New Year’s Eve. Those messages were dated Dec. 23, the day before Noelia said she decided to cancel the Bayfront Park performance.
The back-and-forth extended into Thursday evening with a lengthy Instagram post by Noelia that starts with the question, “How many will die from Joe Carollo’s event?” Noelia blasted Carollo for publicizing private messages without her consent. She didn’t deny Carollo’s contention that she was displeased with her place in the event’s advertising.
“He’s not only irresponsible and ungrateful, he’s a bad person,” she wrote.
Noelia also threatened to publish other texts between herself and Carollo’s wife, referring to a controversial plan pushed by the Carollos to use $1 million in taxpayer funds to place large aluminum dog and cat sculptures in Maurice A. Ferré Park.
“We will publish messages about the famous statues that his wife wants to control,” Noelia wrote. “We will publish information and things that are in the public’s interest.”
The verbal spat comes as other mass gatherings, from concerts to sporting events, are canceled due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. On Thursday, organizers said free masks will be available for concertgoers and 50 sanitation stations will be placed throughout the park.
“Of course, everyone is encouraged to wear a mask. We’re asking, if they choose. It’s not mandated in the city or the state, but that’s up to every individual,” said Tony Albelo, one of the show’s producers and CEO of event agency EngageLive!
Carollo defended the decision to put on the show, saying individuals can decide for themselves if they want to attend the concert or watch the show from home on television or online.
“For those that challenge us over this concert on New Year’s Eve, I challenge them to do the same with every single nightclub, bar, tavern, restaurant, other activities,” he said.
This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 3:45 PM.
