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VH1 has found itself in hot water after casting El Chapo‘s wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, on its reality show Cartel Crew. On Monday, the network announced that Aispuro will appear on next week’s episode of the show, which follows children of cartel members as they attempt to make a name for themselves outside the family business. Considering El Chapo’s long rap sheet — he is currently serving life in prison for trafficking drugs into the United States — his wife’s casting has been met with a strong reaction from viewers, including New York Times bestselling crime author Don Winslow. “This is really disgusting,” said Winslow, tagging VH1 in his tweet.
In a press release issued Monday, VH1 revealed that 30-year-old Aispuro, a former beauty queen, will appear in the November 18 episode of Cartel Crew Season 2. According to the network, the cartel leader’s wife will open up “about her life after El Chapo and her upcoming business venture.” In a preview clip of her episode, Aispuro summons cast member Michael Blanco, the son of “Cocaine Godmother” Griselda Blanco, to her yacht in hopes of recruiting him. “She goes, ‘We would like to meet with you about business,'” Blanco recalls of a conversation with Aispuro’s attorney.
El Chapo, born Joaquín Guzman, spent decades as the leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, widely considered one of the most dangerous and powerful in the world. He was repeatedly charged with murder and drug trafficking, but managed to escape twice; in 2016, he was captured once again and extradited to the United States. In February 2019, El Chapo was convicted on counts of operating a criminal enterprise, illegal use of firearms, conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine, heroine, and marijuana, among others. In addition to the drug charges, the kingpin is believed to be behind thousands of murders (according to CNN, in 2014, he admitted to killing 2,000 to 3,000 people).
With all this in mind, it’s understandable that social media users aren’t happy that El Chapo’s wife is being given a platform on VH1. Mexico-based journalist Ioan Grillo slammed the casting as “a sick and terrible decision by VH1,” particularly as cartel violence has created “a humanitarian catastrophe in Mexico.” Don Winslow, a bestselling NYT author who has written multiple books about cartels and drug enforcement, retweeted Grillo’s tweet, adding, “This is really disgusting.” Others called for VH1 and parent company Viacom “to be boycotted for glamorizing” drug traffickers and gang violence.
This is not the first time that VH1 has blurred the line between entertainment and real-life criminal exploits. From 2011 to 2016, the network aired the popular docuseries Mob Wives, about women whose family members have been arrested for alleged mafia crimes. The success of Mob Wives inspired several spinoffs, including Mob Wives: The Sit Down, a Chicago-set series (the original was set in New York), and Miami Monkey.
El Chapo’s wife Emma Coronel Aispuro will make her first appearance on Cartel Crew next Monday, November 18 at 9/8c on VH1.
