Karol G Wants to Speak Out More About ICE, but People Warn Her Not To: ‘Maybe the Next Day You’ll Get a Call: “Hey, We Are Taking Your Visa Away”‘

In a revealing new cover story for Playboy, Colombian Grammy-winning superstar Karol G has opened up about the pressures she faces when considering speaking out on political issues, specifically regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. The artist, who is set to become the first Latina to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this year, admits she is regularly cautioned against such statements. "People will say, 'It's better you don't,'" she told Emmy-winning writer Paola Ramos. The fear, as she describes it, is tangible: "Why? Because if you say the thing, maybe the next day you'll get a call: 'Hey, we are taking your visa away.' You become bait, because some people want to show their power." This tension highlights a common dilemma for immigrant artists with significant platforms in the U.S., who must balance advocacy with the practical realities of their legal status.

Karol G, whose real name is Carolina Giraldo Navarro, explained her deliberate approach, stating she wants her eventual advocacy to have substantial impact beyond a simple slogan. "I have a huge stage, and that's why I want to wait," she said. "If someone was ever to do something to me, I want to stand firmly on my stage for my community." She questioned the efficacy of hollow gestures, asking, "What impact does it really have to say 'ICE Out' versus something else that can have a real impact on my community?" Despite acknowledging that her "team would kill" her for even uttering the phrase "ICE Out," she affirmed, "But I'm willing to say it." She framed this willingness as part of her responsibility, pondering, "If I'm being honest with you, it's something that crosses the line of what I have to do to protect myself. But at the end of the day, what is my role if I'm in this position?"

The Playboy feature itself marks a new chapter for the iconic publication. Karol G is the first cover subject under the magazine's new chief brand officer and editor-in-chief, Phillip Picardi, whose appointment was announced in March. Picardi, formerly of Teen Vogue and Them, is known for steering brands toward culturally relevant and inclusive storytelling. In a statement to Variety, he praised the collaboration: "Karol G is the perfect embodiment of our new era at Playboy — as an artist and performer, she deeply understands that sexuality can be a powerful storyteller. Her collaboration with [photographer] Gray Sorrenti felt personal and intimate; the photographs communicate a seduction that doesn't need to shout in order to be heard."

When deciding whether to pose, Karol G sought advice from only one person: fellow Colombian star Sofía Vergara. Recalling Vergara's enthusiastic counsel, she shared, "'Mijita, with that body? When you get to this age, you tell yourself, "Fuck, why didn't I pose that one time? I should have posed more with a thong!"' Vergara, who rose to global fame on the hit series *Modern Family*, also offered a boundary: 'Just one thing: Don't show your pussy.'" More importantly, Vergara urged her to have a clear reason for participating. For Karol G, that reason was rooted in inspiration and self-celebration. "Because I grew up inspired by how beautiful the women in the magazine looked, and now I have the opportunity to be that beautiful, sexy mamasota in the magazine. Why not?" she said.

The spring issue of Playboy is scheduled to arrive on newsstands on April 14. Karol G's full cover story, featuring her interview with Paola Ramos, is available exclusively to new and existing digital and print subscribers until the magazine's nationwide release. This milestone feature arrives at a pivotal moment for the artist, bridging her historic Coachella performance with a bold step in redefining her public image and voice.