Latest news with #PartyAfterDark
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside Pitbull mania as Mr Worldwide convinces 20,000 fans to wear bald caps and suits
"He's been baptised by the girlies as the latest daddy of the internet, our therapist, and world leader": Pitbull fans reveal why they enjoy dressing just like the beloved rapper One of the best parts about living in London is deciphering who is playing in the O2 based on what women are wearing on the Tube. Western boots and sequins for Taylor Swift, pink cowboy hats for Chappell Roan. But picture this: a sea of young women in bald caps, svelte black suits and aviators, as far as the eye can see. In June 2025, Pitbull lived up to his stage name of Mr Worldwide, and started a global movement amongst his fans, in which women attending his concerts (and it does appear to be largely women) have elected to dress exactly as the singer. Distinctive elements of his appearance include the bald head, black suit and facial hair. In fact, according to TikTok's recent The Big Shop Report, Pitbull's 2025 Party After Dark tour saw a 420% spike in costume sales, which includes the bald caps and fake soul patches, while #PitbullConcert views increased by over 6000% between May 25 and June 25. From Paris to Dublin, TikTok videos have gone viral of large groups of women in this exact uniform making their way from bus stops and train stations. They have accumulated millions upon millions of views, even inspiring their own 'Pitbull concert FOMO'. But what is it actually like to attend one of these concerts? And why has the 44-year-old Miami rapper inspired such a loyal, young, female fanbase keen to cosplay as him? I spoke to two Pitbull fans behind some of this year's most viral TikTok bald-cap videos. Nicole, who posted her viral video under @whatnicolebakes, attended Pitbull's concert in the O2 London with a close friend in June. She says they spent under £100 each on the costumes and tickets. 'Everyone was dressed as Pitbull in suits, bald caps and drawn on facial hair,' she tells The Mirror. 'If you weren't dressed like that, you stuck out." But what inspired Nicole to become one of the bald-capped masses? She claims she's been a fan of the Worldwide star since 'the very beginning'. Nicole reveals: 'I grew up listening to his music and the love really started from his earlier popular releases like Hotel Room Service, I Know You Want Me, and International Love, and it's continued ever since.' Where does the appeal come from? Nicole says: 'Pitbull's songs are timeless. They're catchy and get everyone dancing instantly, and you can't not sing along to some of his greatest hits!' For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, it's not just about the music. Although she's never met him, Nicole believes he's 'genuinely a great, inspirational person.' She declares: 'He's been baptised by the girlies as the latest daddy of the internet, our therapist, and world leader.' It might sound somewhat implausible to the casual Pitbull listener. After all, doesn't he mainly sing about drinking, hooking up in hotel rooms and 'dale'? But the term 'Pitbull therapy' has been running around online circles for a while now, with fans sharing videos of his feel-good sayings. Nicole explains: 'His Pitbull-isms and lyrics are iconic and have been ingrained into the brains and hearts of people everywhere. My personal favourite is 'This for everybody going through tough times. Believe me, been there, done that. But every day above ground is a great day, remember that.'' Saff (@saffronleijs) attended Pitbull's O2 concert last November and has a similar story. She says her bald cap, sunglasses and tie only came to about £10. As for Pitbull's music, she says she's been listening to it for years and has loved it since she was '18 and clubbing'. She describes the night: 'The whole experience getting to the concert dressed as Pitbull was so funny and then getting closer to the O2 seeing more and more Pitbulls was hilarious. The whole energy of the concert was incredible and still the best concert I've ever been to!' Of course, there is something nostalgic about Pitbull's music. He encapsulates a specific kind of 2010s party essence: a never-ending fiesta of good vibes, free-flowing drink and unselfconscious fun . Who else would inspire so many women to ditch the opportunity to get dressed up for a night out and instead imitate the artist himself? But there remains the big question: what does Pitbull himself make of his thousands of doppelgangers? He recently told the BBC that it makes him 'very, very happy'. He added: 'Every time I'm at a show, I let them know that when you put on a bald cap, I hope you're ready to have the time of your lives – it feels deeper than just music.' Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
San Francisco Chronicle
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Pitbull is a fan of his fans. He says it's his job to make them feel good
LONDON (AP) — Is Pitbull the penguin of music? It's been said that it's hard to look at a penguin and feel sad. And likewise, it's tough to listen to one of Mr. Worldwide's party anthems and feel bad. That's always been his aim. 'They're there for when you're feeling a certain way in life,' Pitbull explains. 'It can help pick you up or it can take you to the next level.' 'When I'm making those records, that what it's about,' he distills. 'I make sure that the beats are something that I know people could dance to. I know that it's not complicated.' His party vibe has been well and truly adopted by audiences, well, worldwide who dress up like Pitbull, wearing bald caps, suits and sunglasses. And like him, they have a drink or two. 'If they come to the show, having a, how can I say, already feeling good, then it's my job to make them feel better,' he says. The day after Monday's 'Party After Dark' concert at the O2 Arena in London, Pitbull sat down with The Associated Press to discuss what it's like to stand onstage and see a crowd of look-alikes staring back. This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: How do you feel now, because that show is very high energy? PITBULL: Look, to be able to be over here in London and get that kind of love and that kind of energy and being in the game for 25 years, it is — now I'm going to tell you how I really feel — phenomenal, spectacular, amazing, extra, how is it? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Just don't ask me to spell it, but everything feels good. AP: And where do you get your stamina and energy from? Because you're jumping so much. PITBULL: The music gets me going and when I'm making those records we are making those records in a way where we program those parts in, in the song and in the shows so we know we're going to jump. We know where they're going to scream. We know what the chants are going to be at. We know when they're going to dance. So I look forward to perform it. And just think of it like me going crazy in my own club on stage. AP: And then do you need to lie down or sit in an ice bath or something like that? PITBULL: No, nothing like that. I do actually need to decompress. It takes me about an hour and a half after the show to just come down from that amazing high, let's just say. AP: On the tube home, everyone's taken their bald caps off, and they're all just flaked out. It's like they've had the time of their life and now they've got to get home. PITBULL: (Laughs) That's what it's about. You get them up there and make sure that they, like I always say, get off the chain, off the glass, off the flip, off the rip, and bottom line, have a good time. So we wear them out, we did our job. AP: When did you first notice fans were dressing up as you? PITBULL: I want to say that started around 2021 when we came out of the, you know, when the world came out the shutdown. That was the tour, it was called 'I Feel Good.' And you started to see it, I want to say maybe out of 20,000 people coming to the show, 30,000 coming to show, you'll see a thousand. But then when we came over, we jumped the pond and we ended up in London and it was just something else. It was definitely a whole new movement, took it to a whole new level and it's flattering. AP: Can you remember when you looked out and noticed that they were all wearing the caps? PITBULL: If they only knew, as much as they are fans of mine, I am fans of them. So when I watch the fans on the way to the show, I see them all. I see them all walking down the block. I see all playing certain songs, just having a great time getting each other, what we call, boost up, ready for the concert... It touches my heart because who would have known, you know, somebody from Miami and all the things that I've been through in life, and that's why I would say from a negative to a positive, to have people out here feeling that good dressed up as me — man, unbelievable. AP: You seem to take moments on the stage as well to appreciate it. Is that important for you? PITBULL: I appreciate the opportunity. I appreciate the love, I appreciate the support. I just don't say it, I live it. It's the truth, it's real. And to be able to feel that on stage, I want them to feel what I feel. Because not only that, I want them know that I appreciate that love that they're giving me and they can relate and when they leave there, they're not only fans but they're connected at another level. They sent me a picture of a woman that was pregnant and had the globe around her belly and it said, 'Baby Worldwide.' When you see those kinds of things, it's a blessing, like I said before, and if she happens to be watching this, I want to say congratulations and thank you, because that was a priceless picture. And so to have more women in the crowd, it just goes to show you that they are feeling what the most powerful women in my life has taught me on stage, which is a gentleman that knows how to have a good time. Sometimes a little naughty, sometimes a little nice, but more than anything, a good person that will do the right thing to the best of my ability. Perfect — I'm not, angel — I am not, but definitely here and move the way that I do due to the powerful women in my life that raised me. AP: Would you ever dress up for a concert of somebody else? PITBULL: I definitely would, but it would be artists from back in the day. I love to have fun, I love to enjoy, and I love to make fun of myself, to be honest with you. I think one of the most beautiful things a human being can have is a sense of humor and not take themselves too seriously. But if back in a day I could go to, I don't know, a Prince concert, or I mean, I love Earth, Wind, and Fire. Jimmy Buffett was a good friend, may he rest in paradise. AP: At the moment it seems to be that people go to Beyoncé dressed as a cowboy, Taylor Swift obviously had lots of dressed up people going to hers. Tyler, The Creator has everyone wearing green and then everyone comes to you in costumes. PITBULL: Well, it's an honor to be able to be mentioned with those kind of names that have worked very hard to be able to be where they're at and to be able to have the fans that are, let's just say, relating at a whole 'nother level.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pitbull is a fan of his fans. He says it's his job to make them feel good
LONDON (AP) — Is Pitbull the penguin of music? It's been said that it's hard to look at a penguin and feel sad. And likewise, it's tough to listen to one of Mr. Worldwide's party anthems and feel bad. That's always been his aim. 'They're there for when you're feeling a certain way in life,' Pitbull explains. 'It can help pick you up or it can take you to the next level.' 'When I'm making those records, that what it's about,' he distills. 'I make sure that the beats are something that I know people could dance to. I know that it's not complicated.' His party vibe has been well and truly adopted by audiences, well, worldwide who dress up like Pitbull, wearing bald caps, suits and sunglasses. And like him, they have a drink or two. 'If they come to the show, having a, how can I say, already feeling good, then it's my job to make them feel better,' he says. The day after Monday's 'Party After Dark' concert at the O2 Arena in London, Pitbull sat down with The Associated Press to discuss what it's like to stand onstage and see a crowd of look-alikes staring back. This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: How do you feel now, because that show is very high energy? PITBULL: Look, to be able to be over here in London and get that kind of love and that kind of energy and being in the game for 25 years, it is — now I'm going to tell you how I really feel — phenomenal, spectacular, amazing, extra, how is it? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Just don't ask me to spell it, but everything feels good. AP: And where do you get your stamina and energy from? Because you're jumping so much. PITBULL: The music gets me going and when I'm making those records we are making those records in a way where we program those parts in, in the song and in the shows so we know we're going to jump. We know where they're going to scream. We know what the chants are going to be at. We know when they're going to dance. So I look forward to perform it. And just think of it like me going crazy in my own club on stage. AP: And then do you need to lie down or sit in an ice bath or something like that? PITBULL: No, nothing like that. I do actually need to decompress. It takes me about an hour and a half after the show to just come down from that amazing high, let's just say. AP: On the tube home, everyone's taken their bald caps off, and they're all just flaked out. It's like they've had the time of their life and now they've got to get home. PITBULL: (Laughs) That's what it's about. You get them up there and make sure that they, like I always say, get off the chain, off the glass, off the flip, off the rip, and bottom line, have a good time. So we wear them out, we did our job. AP: When did you first notice fans were dressing up as you? PITBULL: I want to say that started around 2021 when we came out of the, you know, when the world came out the shutdown. That was the tour, it was called 'I Feel Good.' And you started to see it, I want to say maybe out of 20,000 people coming to the show, 30,000 coming to show, you'll see a thousand. But then when we came over, we jumped the pond and we ended up in London and it was just something else. It was definitely a whole new movement, took it to a whole new level and it's flattering. AP: Can you remember when you looked out and noticed that they were all wearing the caps? PITBULL: If they only knew, as much as they are fans of mine, I am fans of them. So when I watch the fans on the way to the show, I see them all. I see them all walking down the block. I see all playing certain songs, just having a great time getting each other, what we call, boost up, ready for the concert... It touches my heart because who would have known, you know, somebody from Miami and all the things that I've been through in life, and that's why I would say from a negative to a positive, to have people out here feeling that good dressed up as me — man, unbelievable. AP: You seem to take moments on the stage as well to appreciate it. Is that important for you? PITBULL: I appreciate the opportunity. I appreciate the love, I appreciate the support. I just don't say it, I live it. It's the truth, it's real. And to be able to feel that on stage, I want them to feel what I feel. Because not only that, I want them know that I appreciate that love that they're giving me and they can relate and when they leave there, they're not only fans but they're connected at another level. They sent me a picture of a woman that was pregnant and had the globe around her belly and it said, 'Baby Worldwide.' When you see those kinds of things, it's a blessing, like I said before, and if she happens to be watching this, I want to say congratulations and thank you, because that was a priceless picture. AP: Did you notice that it's more women dressed up than men? PITBULL: Yes, yes, yes. Well, you know, I was raised by a single mother. A woman made me a man. The most powerful people in my life have been women… And so to have more women in the crowd, it just goes to show you that they are feeling what the most powerful women in my life has taught me on stage, which is a gentleman that knows how to have a good time. Sometimes a little naughty, sometimes a little nice, but more than anything, a good person that will do the right thing to the best of my ability. Perfect — I'm not, angel — I am not, but definitely here and move the way that I do due to the powerful women in my life that raised me. AP: Would you ever dress up for a concert of somebody else? PITBULL: I definitely would, but it would be artists from back in the day. I love to have fun, I love to enjoy, and I love to make fun of myself, to be honest with you. I think one of the most beautiful things a human being can have is a sense of humor and not take themselves too seriously. But if back in a day I could go to, I don't know, a Prince concert, or I mean, I love Earth, Wind, and Fire. Jimmy Buffett was a good friend, may he rest in paradise. AP: At the moment it seems to be that people go to Beyoncé dressed as a cowboy, Taylor Swift obviously had lots of dressed up people going to hers. Tyler, The Creator has everyone wearing green and then everyone comes to you in costumes. PITBULL: Well, it's an honor to be able to be mentioned with those kind of names that have worked very hard to be able to be where they're at and to be able to have the fans that are, let's just say, relating at a whole 'nother level.
Winnipeg Free Press
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Pitbull is a fan of his fans. He says it's his job to make them feel good
LONDON (AP) — Is Pitbull the penguin of music? It's been said that it's hard to look at a penguin and feel sad. And likewise, it's tough to listen to one of Mr. Worldwide's party anthems and feel bad. That's always been his aim. 'They're there for when you're feeling a certain way in life,' Pitbull explains. 'It can help pick you up or it can take you to the next level.' 'When I'm making those records, that what it's about,' he distills. 'I make sure that the beats are something that I know people could dance to. I know that it's not complicated.' His party vibe has been well and truly adopted by audiences, well, worldwide who dress up like Pitbull, wearing bald caps, suits and sunglasses. And like him, they have a drink or two. 'If they come to the show, having a, how can I say, already feeling good, then it's my job to make them feel better,' he says. The day after Monday's 'Party After Dark' concert at the O2 Arena in London, Pitbull sat down with The Associated Press to discuss what it's like to stand onstage and see a crowd of look-alikes staring back. This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: How do you feel now, because that show is very high energy? PITBULL: Look, to be able to be over here in London and get that kind of love and that kind of energy and being in the game for 25 years, it is — now I'm going to tell you how I really feel — phenomenal, spectacular, amazing, extra, how is it? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Just don't ask me to spell it, but everything feels good. AP: And where do you get your stamina and energy from? Because you're jumping so much. PITBULL: The music gets me going and when I'm making those records we are making those records in a way where we program those parts in, in the song and in the shows so we know we're going to jump. We know where they're going to scream. We know what the chants are going to be at. We know when they're going to dance. So I look forward to perform it. And just think of it like me going crazy in my own club on stage. AP: And then do you need to lie down or sit in an ice bath or something like that? PITBULL: No, nothing like that. I do actually need to decompress. It takes me about an hour and a half after the show to just come down from that amazing high, let's just say. AP: On the tube home, everyone's taken their bald caps off, and they're all just flaked out. It's like they've had the time of their life and now they've got to get home. PITBULL: (Laughs) That's what it's about. You get them up there and make sure that they, like I always say, get off the chain, off the glass, off the flip, off the rip, and bottom line, have a good time. So we wear them out, we did our job. AP: When did you first notice fans were dressing up as you? PITBULL: I want to say that started around 2021 when we came out of the, you know, when the world came out the shutdown. That was the tour, it was called 'I Feel Good.' And you started to see it, I want to say maybe out of 20,000 people coming to the show, 30,000 coming to show, you'll see a thousand. But then when we came over, we jumped the pond and we ended up in London and it was just something else. It was definitely a whole new movement, took it to a whole new level and it's flattering. AP: Can you remember when you looked out and noticed that they were all wearing the caps? PITBULL: If they only knew, as much as they are fans of mine, I am fans of them. So when I watch the fans on the way to the show, I see them all. I see them all walking down the block. I see all playing certain songs, just having a great time getting each other, what we call, boost up, ready for the concert… It touches my heart because who would have known, you know, somebody from Miami and all the things that I've been through in life, and that's why I would say from a negative to a positive, to have people out here feeling that good dressed up as me — man, unbelievable. AP: You seem to take moments on the stage as well to appreciate it. Is that important for you? PITBULL: I appreciate the opportunity. I appreciate the love, I appreciate the support. I just don't say it, I live it. It's the truth, it's real. And to be able to feel that on stage, I want them to feel what I feel. Because not only that, I want them know that I appreciate that love that they're giving me and they can relate and when they leave there, they're not only fans but they're connected at another level. They sent me a picture of a woman that was pregnant and had the globe around her belly and it said, 'Baby Worldwide.' When you see those kinds of things, it's a blessing, like I said before, and if she happens to be watching this, I want to say congratulations and thank you, because that was a priceless picture. AP: Did you notice that it's more women dressed up than men? PITBULL: Yes, yes, yes. Well, you know, I was raised by a single mother. A woman made me a man. The most powerful people in my life have been women… And so to have more women in the crowd, it just goes to show you that they are feeling what the most powerful women in my life has taught me on stage, which is a gentleman that knows how to have a good time. Sometimes a little naughty, sometimes a little nice, but more than anything, a good person that will do the right thing to the best of my ability. Perfect — I'm not, angel — I am not, but definitely here and move the way that I do due to the powerful women in my life that raised me. AP: Would you ever dress up for a concert of somebody else? PITBULL: I definitely would, but it would be artists from back in the day. I love to have fun, I love to enjoy, and I love to make fun of myself, to be honest with you. I think one of the most beautiful things a human being can have is a sense of humor and not take themselves too seriously. But if back in a day I could go to, I don't know, a Prince concert, or I mean, I love Earth, Wind, and Fire. Jimmy Buffett was a good friend, may he rest in paradise. AP: At the moment it seems to be that people go to Beyoncé dressed as a cowboy, Taylor Swift obviously had lots of dressed up people going to hers. Tyler, The Creator has everyone wearing green and then everyone comes to you in costumes. PITBULL: Well, it's an honor to be able to be mentioned with those kind of names that have worked very hard to be able to be where they're at and to be able to have the fans that are, let's just say, relating at a whole 'nother level.
New York Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
What's Bold, Bald and Coming to a Stadium Near You?
Outside the O2 Arena in London on Monday evening, the hip-hop superstar Pitbull tore into a bowl of chicken katsu curry. A few feet away, Pitbull fumbled with an iPhone charger. A lone Pitbull checked his watch, and a conga line of Pitbulls rode up an escalator. Two Pitbulls were holding hands. Four more split a bottle of rosé. The actual Pitbull — Armando Christian Pérez, a Miami native who steered a boisterous strain of club-rap to the top of the charts in the early 2010s — was backstage, preparing for the first of two performances at the 20,000-capacity arena. Waves of young fans have gotten in the habit of impersonating the artist at each date of his 'Party After Dark' tour, paying special attention to his most famous, most hairless, feature. 'I'm pretty sure every party shop in London is sold out of bald caps,' said Jay McGillan, 19. Mr. McGillan said he had visited seven stores and struck out, so he improvised by drawing a portrait of Pitbull's sparkling pate directly onto the fabric of his white button-up shirt. He joined a line of fans streaming into the arena, one of them wearing a T-shirt that read: 'Good girls go to church … Bad girls go to Pitbull.' It's boom times for the concert uniform, a relatively recent phenomenon in which fans coordinate on social media to wear sequins to see Taylor Swift and cowboy boots for Beyoncé. (Jimmy Buffett's Parrotheads were way ahead of the curve.) But Pitbull mania is an outlier in terms of its outrageousness, its lack of obvious sex appeal and its uniformity. To wander among the Pitbulls feels like Halloween night, if Halloween had only one costume option and it was Pitbull.. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
