Venezuelan Exile’s TikTok Celebrating Maduro’s Ouster Tops Millions of Views

In exile in Argentina, Venezuelan music producer Miguel Alejandro Herrera, known online as Kilómetro, posted an AI-made TikTok on Jan. 8 celebrating Nicolás Maduro’s ouster that has drawn more than 11 million views on TikTok and 5 million on Instagram. Herrera’s video, which he said celebrates Maduro’s capture and taunts the leader’s allies, includes a lip-synced refrain asking, “Where is China?

Where is Russia? Why didn’t they act?” He said he aimed for a catchy, tropical summer hit that plays on the jingles long deployed by Chavismo, a tactic Mr. Maduro used himself by breaking into musical routines — dancing that, the report says, may have ultimately contributed to his downfall.

The post has spread through Venezuela’s large diaspora and set off memes, A.I. clips and thousands of comments. Herrera began making videos ahead of the 2024 presidential election to explain rules and urge voter registration, built a large following and left Venezuela after Mr. Maduro claimed victory despite evidence the opposition had won; he said he departed for his safety.

Inside Venezuela, the state-controlled broadcaster has shown large crowds and the government says most citizens oppose the ouster, even as security forces have, since the U.S. operation that led to Mr. Maduro’s capture, boarded buses, searched phones and questioned people.

Key Topics

Politics, Miguel Herrera, Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, Tiktok, Chavismo