Legendary rock star Carlos Santana has headlined a long-running residency on the Las Vegas Strip since 2012, performing over 300 shows to sold-out audiences.
The popularity of Santana’s residency has not worn off and he did not suffer cancelation after creating controversy back in August 2023 that required an apology to the transgender community.
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Santana apologized after a video from an August 2023 concert in Atlantic City, N.J., began circulating on social media with his comments about transgender individuals.
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Santana said in the offensive video: “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. Whatever you wanna do in the closet, that’s your business. I’m OK with that.”
“I am like this with my brother Dave Chappelle,” the guitarist added, bringing his hands together. Chappelle has been criticized for past transgender community material used in his stand-up sets.
Santana issued the following apology in a statement in August 2023.
“I am sorry for my insensitive comments,” Santana wrote. “They don’t reflect that I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs. I realize that what I said hurt people and that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to the transgender community and everyone I offended.
“Here is my personal goal that I strive to achieve every day. I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs whether they are LGBTQ or not. This is the planet of free will and we have all been given this gift.
“I will now pursue this goal to be happy and have fun, and for everyone to believe what they want and follow in your hearts without fear. It takes courage to grow and glow in the light that you are and to be true, genuine, and authentic.
“We grow and learn to shine our light with Love and compliments. Have a glorious existence. Peace,” Santana concluded.
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The apology seems to have worked and satisfied MGM’s residency promoters as Santana has since extended his residency through 2024 and into 2025.
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But controversy hasn’t been much of an issue for other Las Vegas Strip residency headliners and performers over the years. King of Pop Michael Jackson faced numerous alleged sexual misconduct accusations involving children during his lifetime, but that hasn’t stopped Mandalay Bay from hosting a Cirque du Soleil show “Michael Jackson ONE” since 2013.
Guitarist Carlos Santana of Santana performs on stage at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre on June 17, 2022 in Chula Vista, Calif. (Photo by Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)
Daniel Knighton/Getty Images
Santana adds more residency shows
That’s good news for classic rock band Santana as it has extended its “An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live” residency at the MGM Resorts International’s (MGM)  House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip with 16 more shows set for January, February, and May 2025.
Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com for Santana’s new residency shows Jan. 22, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, Feb. 1, 2, May 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24 and 25. The band’s remaining 2024 residency shows on Nov. 3, 6, 7, 9, and 10 are still available. Santana began performing his Mandalay Bay residency in May 2012.
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