Shortly before ten in the morning on Wednesday, June 4, the Clerk of the Court responsible for officiating the conciliation hearings in the Rudy Ruymán case appeared at the entrance of the First Instance Court number 11 of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to witness firsthand the media impact of the conciliation hearing called between the influencer and social educator against the Mamelucos band and the spokesperson for the Socialist municipal group in the Tenerife capital, Patricia Hernández. The calm in the area was general amid the military preparations for Saturday’s parade, with municipal crews painting the fences around nearby lots and, in the background, the hit parade of military themes being heard from the maritime park parking lots.
At ten in the morning, the first of two conciliation hearings convened. Rudy Ruymán, whose official name is Ricardo Ruymán Lorenzo Pérez, faced the Socialist spokesperson, who did not attend but was represented. Her lawyer, Sandra Rodríguez, and attorney Esther Martín García attended. Rudy Ruymán, without legal representation, appeared at the hearing accompanied only by his brother, whom some confused with a bodyguard for the influencer.
The Clerk of the Court expected a calm session. Without a robe and in shirt sleeves, he began the conciliation between Rudy Ruymán and Patricia Hernández, giving the floor to the plaintiff, asking what agreement he proposed. Before starting his statement, Rudy Ruymán attempted to find out if the representatives of the Socialist councilor would later attend the Mamelucos session, but the Clerk avoided any response. “This is the conciliation hearing with Patricia Hernández.”
The social educator and influencer closely followed his script and demanded the politician apologize and publicly retract for publishing on social media X a support text for the Mamelucos and Trapaseros bands, whom he had questioned for their repertoire. “It’s the limit! A racist sues the lyricists of @MamelucosMurga and @MurgaTrapaseros for calling him a racist. Neither the bands nor the carnival will be intimidated by your lawsuits, Rudy Ruymán. Add mine if you wish: you are a racist #YoSoyMamelucos #YoSoyTrapaseros.” He reiterated his expectation that the Socialist politician compensate him with 15,000 euros for the events and the suffering incurred.
The lawyer responded, saying she did not accept the conciliation proposal, arguing that her client exercised her legitimate right to freedom of expression, reiterating the defense of human rights, values she maintains are unrelated to the influencer’s arguments.
Rudy Ruymán argued that “this lady,” “ma’am,” corrected Patricia Hernández’s representative, accused him of racism when he is not.
The Clerk tried unsuccessfully to mediate, reminding that reaching an agreement requires compromise. The hearing, the first of two held that Wednesday, ended without conciliation or any commitment to retract or offer indemnification, while Rudy Ruymán lamented the “evident moral, professional, and personal damage” he continues to suffer due to the “serious false accusations made against me.”
Mamelucos’ Turn
Had it been a band competition, Patricia Hernández’s session would have opened the final, followed by Mamelucos as the protagonist of the second conciliation session. Cited, although the lawyer defended on behalf of the president, Manolo Peña, and Carlos González, the band’s director.
The official announced that in the case of the “Casa del Miedo” band, the “actors” were the same, to expedite the session’s start, while Rudy Ruymán perceived some hidden interest shared by Mamelucos and Patricia Hernández. Indeed, in a document submitted post-hearing, he noted that “none of the involved personally attended the act, reinforcing the clear political connection of the band and a joint procedural strategy to avoid responsibilities.”
Before delving into the matter, the band’s lawyer, Sandra Rodríguez, reiterated that “Mamelucos band, as such, does not exist,” clarifying that only physical or legal persons may be cited in court, but no registered entity exists as the Mamelucos band.
Rudy Ruymán expressed his desire to involve the collective. “I am going against the Mamelucos band,” he said. “It does not exist as such,” reiterated the collective’s lawyer while the Clerk reviewed that the citation for the hearing had been received and signed by Manolo Peña. The social educator attempted to address the judicial official. “Will you let me speak? Does only the other side speak?” He responded: “Sir, let’s keep the peace. You will be able to speak.”
The Clerk confirmed notification to Mamelucos, while Sandra Rodríguez insisted it does not have legal personality because it doesn’t exist.
“The plaintiff has the floor.” Rudy Ruymán gathered momentum to warn of the harm caused by the band’s mention in their repertoire to his health, moral damage, personal and professional harm, and popularity, after unsuccessfully trying to reach an agreement with Mamelucos to cease singing the offending song, which they subsequently performed again at the Candelaria Band Festival. The social educator unsuccessfully requested the band publicly retract, apologize during the 2026 Carnival band competition final—a wish shared by Manolo Peña, particularly to guarantee passage to the final—and apologize in media and social networks, plus a compensation of 50,000 euros for accusing him of racism and inciting hatred.
Sandra Rodríguez claimed ignorance of which part of the song bothered Rudy Ruymán as he did not provide a precise mention but rather a generic relation, stating “they have not uttered offensive or false expressions in their lyrics.” She emphasized the definition of a band: “Band lyrics are part of the essence of the Carnival, constituting a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression. The lyrics do not aim to offend but exercise the right to social criticism through satire and humor on current topics, especially those affecting democratic values and human rights.”
Aware of how the first session unfolded, the Clerk closed the conciliation hearing with Mamelucos. Without settlement, Rudy Ruymán reiterated his stance against the Mamelucos band, asserting it does exist, and planned to request identification of the hundred members who sang the lyrics against him. “That will be in another session,” Sandra Rodríguez stated, finalizing the hearing.
The social educator can now choose to file a civil lawsuit for protection of his honor or a criminal complaint for libel and slander. Meanwhile, Trapaseros, another band Rudy Ruymán has filed a complaint against for singing to him in Carnival, is still being sought.
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