Justin Quiles sparked a public safety scare by inviting Tenerife residents to an impromptu gathering this Sunday afternoon. The plan had been to stage a concert on the La Tejita beach in Granadilla after a previously announced Reggaeton Beach Festival, which had been slated for Amarilla Golf on Saturday. The Puerto Rican American singer and songwriter publicly invited people in Tenerife to join an unscheduled performance, a move that led to significant traffic pressure on the southern portion of the island. Local authorities, already wary of security gaps, had refused to authorize the reggaeton festival in light of the mounting safety concerns.
Quiles, often referred to simply as J Quiles, sang only a handful of songs before the crowd, largely made up of young fans gathered at La Tejita, began to surge in restless anticipation. Security personnel decided it would be prudent to wrap up the recital quickly to avoid any dangerous incidents, and the entourage nearly escorted the singer away as the scene grew chaotic. In subsequent posts across social networks, the artist urged fans not to descend on Granadilla beach, noting that the mass movement toward the seven thirty start time had already overwhelmed a large portion of the roads. The area south of the island, including the TF-1 highway, faced mounting congestion.
The situation reached the point where exits at Las Chafiras and San Isidro were overwhelmed for more than an hour. Eyewitnesses described traffic turning into outright gridlock as thousands of people moved in the same direction, hoping to witness a moment of shared celebration. On a busy Sunday at the tail end of July, drivers faced delays of thirty minutes or more, with some unable to reach their destinations on time due to both high demand for a glimpse of their idols and unexpected traffic snarls.
The singer later issued a challenge via Instagram on Saturday suggesting a free beach concert on the island after the Reggaeton Beach Festival was cancelled. He addressed his message to Tenerife fans with a direct plea: “My people from Tenerife, I have an idea. What about tomorrow? I could pick a beach, hold a session and sing my acoustic songs free for all my fans, what do you say?” That offer created heightened curiosity about Sunday’s plans, but the timing of the confirmation just 45 minutes before La Tejita was announced as the stage added to the confusion. Quiles hoped to show consideration for his followers, yet the move complicated many people’s lives. Police ultimately had to evacuate the beach and surrounding areas as a large crowd dispersed when Quiles and his entourage departed.
The ongoing reggaeton festival in San Miguel de Abona endured a slow queue as thousands of would-be attendees faced disappointment. Many spectators, numbering in the tens of thousands who had hoped to enjoy a twelve-hour festival, watched the waters calm while feeling left out. Quiles later posted a message that drew significant attention and sparked debate among his eight-million-plus followers. He wrote a response that many perceived as a call for restraint, urging followers not to crowd beaches for safety reasons and to avoid worsening traffic, a statement that drew both support and criticism across social platforms. The post was viewed as a moment of reflection on the balance between live music and public safety, though it did little to quell the immediate frustration of attendees and onlookers alike.
The island’s visitors were left with a memorable Sunday in Tenerife, which concluded with Quiles sending a final note that acknowledged the event as a collective experience. He stated that the gathering had been meaningful and that there would be another chance to meet in the future. The closing sentiment resonated with many fans who still cherished the connection, while others muttered that the day had underscored the importance of coordinated events and clear safety planning when large crowds assemble in popular destinations.
[Citations: Local authorities and eyewitness accounts corroborate the traffic disruptions and police evacuation; social media posts from Quiles and followers illustrate the sequence of events and reactions across platforms.]