At the Viña del Mar Festival 2025, Chilean comedian Pedro Ruminot brought humor and nostalgia to the stage by poking fun at Adam Levine, the Maroon 5 frontman, whose icy demeanor during the band's 2020 performance still stings for many Chileans. This unexpected comedic moment resulted in Levine blocking direct messages on his Instagram account after Ruminot shared his own hilarious attempts to reach out to the singer via social media.
During the last night of the festival, Ruminot, known for his incisive wit, recounted Levine's infamous 2020 appearance at the event. He described the silence and distance the singer maintained throughout his set, leading to audience dissatisfaction and harsh criticism. "Who do we despise? There is one person we have relentlessly teased here, not out of xenophobia but simply because he didn't connect with us: Adam Levine," Ruminot exclaimed, drawing gasps and chuckles from the crowd.
The comedian dived deep, relaying how Levine performed his hits without even acknowledging the excited crowd. "He didn’t greet anyone, didn’t thank us, and left without saying goodbye, leaving everyone asking, ‘What just happened?’" This recollection hit home for many Chileans who had shared their discontent online, flooding Levine's Instagram with offbeat messages, including cooking recipes and playful barbs.
After recounting the episode, Ruminot made the audience laugh by showcasing the extent of his own disdain through his attempts to message Levine on Instagram. He revealed his phone with numerous unsent messages, resulting in the audience erupting with laughter at the sheer number of messages he had attempted to send. Then, with mischief, he sent Levine a recorded audio message live on stage, amplifying the laughter with his theatrical antics.
Little did Ruminot know, his jest would compel Levine to take immediate action. Shortly after the festival, Levine reportedly restricted his Instagram messages, allowing only those accounts he follows to contact him. According to various social media critics, this decision was likely another attempt to dodge similar backlash from furious fans, who vocally expressed their displeasure years prior. The response from users erupted on Twitter, noting how Ruminot had done it again, prompting Levine to hide from the very interactions he may have tried to avoid.
One social media user humorously tweeted, "Pedro Ruminot traumatizing Adam Levine by disabling his messages again," highlighting the ripple effect of Ruminot's routine. Another tweet captured the essence: "The Adam Levine now prays to Pedro Ruminot to never mention him again,” showing how much the comic continues to impact the singer's reputation among his Chilean fans.
Ruminot's reflection on Levine's previous interaction with Chileans wasn't just about comedy; it was about reclaiming voice and agency. He pointed out how Levine, as part of his performance last time, failed to connect due to his perceived arrogance, leading to the cultural phenomenon of fans taking to social media to express their grievances.
Backed by television hosts and social media influencers, Levine’s 2020 performance continues to be referenced, insinuated, and dissected from every angle possible, leading to Ruminot's decision to call back to the past. He used humor not only to entertain but to perform social commentary, creating accessible comedic art by invoking one of the most notorious episodes for American artists performing abroad.
With photo proofs displayed on the big screen, the irony was palpable. While Levine had attempted to secure his privacy by limiting Instagram comments and messages, he ended up at the center of widespread attention, all because of Ruminot's clever storytelling and the communal laughter it ignited. The essence of Ruminot’s performance wasn’t merely to reshape collective memories but to provoke thought about celebrity culture and its reception, especially involving foreign artists.
Further responding to this saga, Ruminot urged fans during the show to follow his lead and join him in sending comedic or outright bizarre messages to Levine, mirroring how social media serves as both weapon and shield against celebrities’ perceived shortcomings.
By transforming this discomforting encounter with Levine's unwelcoming behavior back then, Ruminot not only entertained at Viña del Mar 2025 but also opened up dialogues. His routine became emblematic of Chilean humor and social media's role. It demonstrated how local narratives prevail and adapt through collaborative comedic resistance.
The laughter surrounding Ruminot's bold humor reflects the tight-knit connection between comedians and their audiences, propelling engaging discussions about respect between artists and fans—sometimes through rustic humor and parody. It’s moments like these when performers can have immense influence and reshape perspectives, leaving audiences both laughing and pensive.
Much like past editions of the festival, this incident also paints how international artists might regularly encounter unforeseen narratives shaped by public sentiment, as embodied by Ruminot's performance, which cleverly bridged the gap between culture and entertainment.