Melina Pérez Vélez, former director of Tourism and Culture of Tacámbaro, Michoacán, was dismissed from her position after appearing in a video mocking the death of a young man who died after falling from a zip line. The municipal president of Tacámbaro, Salvador Bastida García, announced Pérez Vélez's dismissal stating that her actions would not be justified in her administration. The former official stated that it was not her intention to mock, although she was aware of the seriousness of the matter.
In the video, Melina Pérez Vélez mocked the accident of Kevin Abdiel, a 17-year-old teenager who lost his life after falling from the zip line. Subsequently, Pérez Vélez offered apologies through her Instagram account, claiming it was not her intention to make fun of the tragedy. However, the reaction on social media was one of outrage and criticism from thousands of users who condemned her comments.
The former official mentioned that she submitted her resignation from the position to contribute to the tranquility and better functioning of the city hall. She acknowledged her mistake and expressed solidarity with those affected, lamenting the wave of hatred and disrepute towards her name. In the midst of the outrage on social media, Pérez Vélez decided to step down from the position she held.
The video of Melina Pérez Vélez alongside a group of people, supposedly in a state of drunkenness, generated strong rejection in society. The former director received criticism for her insensitive comments regarding the tragedy of the young man who died in the zip line accident. Her resignation and apologies came after the dissemination of the video that triggered a wave of online condemnation.