The relationships between organized crime and public figures in Mexico have been the subject of media attention for years.

One of the most notorious cases is that of Kate del Castillo, star of La Reina del Sur, who was involved in an international controversy after meeting with El Chapo Guzmán in 2015. In an interview with the host Yordi Rosado, the actress recalled that her initial contact with Guzmán arose three years after she published a tweet in which she questioned Mexican politicians and claimed to believe more in the drug trafficker than in the government.

"I can't believe I was texting with this man," said Del Castillo, who explained that the approach occurred through her lawyers, after an alleged proposal to star in a film about the life of the Sinaloa drug lord.

The actress explained that they initially contacted her mother through the National Actors Association (ANDA), where they requested her information for a film project. Although she was initially skeptical and requested the script, their insistence grew until it was revealed to her that the emissaries were Guzmán Loera's lawyers. Eventually, she agreed to a face-to-face meeting with the kingpin, which was later documented in the Netflix special "When I Met El Chapo."

But Kate's case is not unique. Singer Peso Pluma, one of the greatest exponents of the corrido tumbado, has also been linked to drug trafficking figures, especially "Los Chapitos," El Chapo's sons. According to testimonies compiled by journalist Anabel Hernández on her podcast Narcosistema and in interviews with former members of the Sinaloa Cartel such as Dámaso López Serrano, alias "El Mini Lic," the artist is said to be close to Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, alias "El Nini," head of security for Guzmán's sons. "He goes, he gets it, they have communication, favors... like any favor," said a witness. Hernández added that the role of artists like Peso Pluma is said to be that of "drug propagandists," hired to sing at private parties or write songs glorifying organized crime figures. The singer has also been linked to other cartel operators,such as "El Piyi," whose arrest was linked to a song dedicated to him.

In another case, singer Roberto Tapia recounted his personal experience with El Chapo in an interview with Ernesto Barajas. "He is one of the most polite people I have ever met," he said. He asserted that Guzmán Loera treated him with kindness and humility, and even personally thanked him for the corrido "El hijo de la tuna," inspired by the life of the kingpin.

Tapia, known for his closeness to the world of regional Mexican music and for his friendship with Rafael Amaya—the actor who plays Aurelio Casillas in "El Señor de los Cielos"—also revealed that he has sung for members of the Gulf Cartel.

The links between drug trafficking and public figures continue to generate controversy and debate about the ethical responsibility of artists when depicting organized crime. In a culture where criminal power merges with popularity and fame, the lines between spectacle and crime become increasingly blurred.