The Lords And Ladies: Meet Mexico's Infamous Viral Stars

In recent years, camera phones in Mexico have documented the brash, entitled behavior of the country’s privileged elite. Known sarcastically as “Lords” and “Ladies,” these arrogant exhibitionists have hit the headlines and become viral sensations in the country. Yet the fascination with badly-behaved rich kids is rooted in genuine concerns over the toxic mix of corruption and inequality that plagues Mexican society. Here’s a rundown of Mexico’s most notorious spoilt brats.

The Ladies of Polanco assault a police officer

The Lords and Ladies of Mexico first came to the international spotlight in 2011, when two drunken women were recorded insulting and attacking a police officer in the wealthy Mexico City neighborhood of Polanco. Among the many insults hurled at the officer was that he was “a salary man.” The women escaped arrest and one of them was later identified as Azalia Ojeda, a singer and former Big Brother contestant.

https://www.instagram.com/p/9EoetBNVOW/?tagged=azaliaojeda

Lady Profeco causes restaurant shutdown

In 2013, Andrea Benitez turned up at an expensive restaurant in Mexico City and threw a tantrum when she was not given the table she wanted. She called inspectors at the consumer protection agency (Profeco) run by her father, who promptly shut the restaurant down. Yet the news spread like wildfire on social media, where Benitez was dubbed “Lady Profeco.” Within weeks, her father was forced to resign.

Lady 100 Pesos fails to bribe the police

A drunk driver became a household name in Mexico after causing a multi-car pile-up in the city of Guanajuato in 2016. When police arrived, Lorena Daniela Aguirre, the 18-year-old driver, returned to her vehicle and attempted to leave the scene. When she realized she was under arrest, Aguirre reached for her wallet and pulled out a note in an attempt to bribe the officers. In front of the assembled cameras, Aguirre was left dangling a MXN$100 bill (US$6) in the face of several unimpressed police officers. After a brief struggle, Aguirre was taken into custody. She was held for around eight hours before being released after paying a fine of MXN$1,500.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEgdOiSma52/?tagged=lady100pesos

The outrageously well-connected ‘Gentleman of Puebla’

Another drunk driver sparked indignation and ridicule on social media in 2014 after claiming to be the son of the President of Mexico. Victor Manuel Pazos Medrano crashed into another vehicle while driving under the influence in the central state of Puebla. Accompanied by his mother, Pazos Medrano denied having run a red light. He then claimed that his father was the president before changing his story and saying he was the Finance Secretary. Dubbed the “Gentleman of Puebla,” it later transpired that the 31-year-old in the video was the son of a lesser-known politician affiliated to Mexico’s ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party.

Lord Audi flees the scene

Another viral video that highlighted the rampant impunity enjoyed by Mexico’s wealthy elite was released in 2016. The recording showed an Audi driver invade a bicycle lane in Mexico City and deliberately ram a cyclist. When confronted by a police officer, the Audi driver tells him to call his father. “This is Mexico, you got it?” he says at one point.

After fighting off the officers and returning to the wheel, the driver sped from the scene. He was later identified as Rafael Márquez Gasperín, the son of a telecommunications business leader.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIdlCFSgl1u/?tagged=lordaudi

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