Social Media Drags Carlos Santana For Transphobic Concert Speech: “A Woman Is A Woman And A Man Is A Man” [Video]

They say with age comes absolutely no filter, and guitarist Carlos Santana did not mince his words when expressing his transphobic views recently.

The 76-year-old graced the stage in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he abruptly stopped the music to share a message about gender to his cheering fans. According to Santana, “There is no virtual reality.”

“When God made you and me, before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you are. Later on, when you grow out of it, you see things, and you start believing that you could be something that sounds good, but you know it ain’t right. Because a woman is a woman and a man is a man. That’s it,” he said as the crowd erupted with applause.

It didn’t take long for the clip to make its way to social media on Thursday, where people denounced the ten-time Grammy Award winner. Much of the criticism slammed Santana for pushing anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric, which has been the driving force behind restrictive laws. In Florida, trans students are prohibited from accessing restrooms and locker rooms that suit their gender identity. Tennessee previously banned drag shows until a federal judge overturned the ruling in June. Needless to say, Santana’s thought process is harmful to trans lives everywhere, and social media wasted no time letting him know how distasteful his comments were. 

https://twitter.com/MrsBundrige/status/1694893713875427679

Holy shit, Carlos Santana's just another dipshit like Eric Clapton.

— Liam Nissan™ (@theliamnissan) August 24, 2023

Fuck Carlos Santana. I thought he was dead anyway. pic.twitter.com/VoJBiOjnfZ

— Auntie Derek (@DerekIsNormal) August 24, 2023

I didn’t have Carlos Santana being an ignorant transphobic bigot on my BINGO card. What a shame. https://t.co/Ve5KkHcC0v

— 🎗️🥁 🇺🇦 🇮🇱Catherine Calls Out Antisemitism (@CMargaronis) August 24, 2023

Now who the hell asked Carlos Santana his opinion on trans rights? If you don’t play that little riff from Maria Maria and keep it moving…pic.twitter.com/1u36Rsgk0K

— Shego (@spkhp) August 24, 2023

I will never understand folks finding moments UNPROVOKED to be bigots. Intended or not. Mr. Played-By-Carlos-Santana could've sat there and just strummed that damn guitar, but he decided to be transphobic. Poor that. https://t.co/gANx4P2Cxy

— You homo-sapiens and your guns… (@griotDAMONE) August 24, 2023

Santana concluded his message by stating, “Whatever you wanna do in the closet, that’s your business. I’m OK with that.” He followed up with an apology to the trans community, which was provided to Billboard, though the damage was already done.