Bobby Pulido Faces Backlash Over 2018 Onstage Joke About Bandmate Convicted Of Child Sex Abuse

Democratic congressional nominee and Latin music star Bobby Pulido is facing renewed scrutiny after footage from a November 2018 concert resurfaced in which he made a joke about longtime bandmate Frankie Caballero, who is a registered sex offender convicted of indecent contact with an 8‑year‑old girl.

Pulido, a two‑time Latin Grammy winner and the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, has said he was unaware of Caballero’s sex offender registration and that he severed ties when he learned of the conviction. Pulido’s campaign and manager have repeatedly said Caballero was fired in 2021 by management once Caballero’s criminal history became known.

Bobby Pulido, Democratic congressional candidate for Texas, speaks during a "Take Back Texas" campaign event with State Representative James Talarico in Edinburg, Texas, Feb. 27, 2026.

Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz, who is Pulido’s opponent in the race, criticized the singer‑turned‑candidate over the onstage remark and his past association with Caballero. Fox News Digital reviewed the concert clip in which Pulido calls Caballero a “bad man” and jokes that, although Caballero was born in South Bend, Indiana, “he didn’t go to Notre Dame — he went to Penn State,” after which Pulido adds, “No, no, I’m just kidding, don’t worry.”

"The question isn't whether Bobby Pulido knew what his close friend did to these children — everyone knows he knew," Rep. De La Cruz told Fox News Digital. "Why Bobby Pulido spent decades bringing a pedophile around to our families? My heart breaks for the families whose children were victimized by the predator that Bobby Pulido brought into our neighborhoods for decades, knowing full well what he had done."

Pulido’s campaign pushed back, calling De La Cruz’s statements false and reiterating that Pulido had no knowledge of Caballero’s sex offender registration. A campaign spokesperson accused the congresswoman of spreading a "máquina de mentiras" ("machine of lies") and noted that management terminated Caballero’s role in 2021 after learning of his record. Pulido’s campaign manager, Abel Prado, said Pulido "extends his deepest sympathies and support to all of the victims involved" and described Caballero as someone who struggled with addiction.

Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX) speaks on Day 3 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 17, 2024.

The controversy also prompted commentators and a former Hidalgo County Democratic prosecutor to weigh in. The prosecutor told Fox News Digital they had reviewed the matter and said Pulido’s "Penn State" quip could be interpreted as either a reference to prison time or a crude allusion to child sexual abuse — either interpretation, the prosecutor said, damages Pulido’s denials.

Frankie Caballero’s legal record spans decades. According to public records cited in reporting, Caballero was first arrested on child sex abuse charges in 1992 (the disposition of that case is unclear), and in May 2014 he was convicted of a second‑degree felony for indecent contact with an 8‑year‑old and incarcerated from 2014 to 2016. Despite that conviction, videos show Pulido and Caballero performing together from 2018 through 2021 in cities including Kansas City, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Tucson. Caballero also faced additional charges in Hidalgo County between 2020 and 2021 that were later dismissed and was cited for failures to comply with sex‑offender registration rules in 2020 and 2021.

Pulido first collaborated with Caballero in 1995; Caballero is credited on Pulido albums released in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999. Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to Caballero for comment but did not receive a response.

The resurfaced clip and the competing claims between the campaigns have become a topic of local attention in the Texas 15th District race, raising questions about vetting, accountability and how public figures respond when associates have criminal records involving sexual abuse of minors.