Colombian star Maluma champions children's hearing safety during concert performance

Colombian singer Maluma’s weekend show in Mexico City took an unexpected turn when he stopped mid-performance to address a mother in the crowd who had brought her one-year-old child without any ear protection.

In a moment captured on video and now widely circulating online, the “Borro Cassette” hitmaker paused the music and spoke directly to the unidentified woman.

He said, “Ma’am, I’m going to tell you something. Don’t bring him here; leave him there. With all due respect, I’m already a father. What’s he? A year old?” 

The Grammy-nominated artist went on to question the decision. “Do you think it’s a good idea to bring a one-year-old baby to a concert where the decibels are really loud, where the sound is really loud?” he asked, pointing out that the child “doesn’t even know what he’s doing here”.

Maluma urged the mom to think about the child’s well-being at future events. “Next time, protect his ears or something. That’s really irresponsible, and you were waving the baby around like he was a toy. 

“That kid really doesn’t want to be there,” he said, adding that as a father himself, he “would never” bring his own child to such an environment.

“So next time, be a little more aware.”

Hearing safety at concerts has become an increasing point of discussion in recent years, with some adult concertgoers choosing to wear noise-cancelling devices such as AirPods Pro 2, often set to transparency mode, to reduce the impact of high-volume sound systems.

If adults take such precautions for their ear health, it is even more important for children’s hearing to be protected, as their hearing is still developing, making them more vulnerable to damage.

Health organisations warn that a child’s hearing is especially sensitive, and prolonged exposure to loud noise at events such as concerts or professional sports games can cause irreversible harm. 

Parents are encouraged to know the warning signs of noise-induced hearing loss and take preventive measures to safeguard both their own hearing and that of their children.

The singer, who welcomed his daughter Paris Londoño Gómez with girlfriend Susana Gómez in March 2024, has often spoken about how fatherhood has changed him. 

In a previous interview with “Entertainment Online”, he revealed that he now keeps a disciplined routine, going to bed at 9pm and waking up at 5.30am to train, because he wants to stay healthy for his children.

 “Everything has changed for me since Paris was born. I want to show my daughter that nothing is impossible, and I want to make Paris proud,” he said.