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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Politics
Regyl Jaen

Why Mexican Influencers Are Being Killed on Camera: The Hidden Role of Cartels in the Creator Economy

The death of César Gastelum highlights a darker side of Mexico’s creator economy, where livestreams, alleged cartel ties, and social media influence can have deadly consequences. (Credit: César Gastélum/Instagram Account)

It took only seconds for the livestream to turn deadly. César Gastélum was livestreaming with two friends when two helmeted individuals approached on a motorcycle and opened fire. The influencer was shot in the head during the livestream, according to reports.

Gastélum had built an audience of more than 600,000 TikTok followers. His killing was the latest in a string of violent deaths involving social media personalities and content creators in Mexico, particularly in Sinaloa.

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