Rio Grande Valley internet celebrity, Bronco956, is seen in this image posted to Facebook by a culture critic known as “Nomorecheezmeh.”
A minor South Texas celebrity might be feeling whiplash after being invited, then uninvited, to appear at South Texas Comic Con this weekend.
Jose Urbina Rios, known in the Rio Grande Valley as Bronco956, had accepted an invitation from the con’s organizers to be one of several “local celebrities” to make appearances at the event.
Article continues below this ad
But just as suddenly as organizers announced Bronco956’s appearance, they soon announced the deal had been nixed.
“After careful consideration, both Bronco956’s team and South Texas Comic Con have mutually agreed not to move forward with the appearance this year,” STXCC officials stated in a Facebook lpost ate in the afternoon on Tuesday, April 22.
“We appreciate everyone’s understanding,” the post further reads.
The event organizers also removed a previous post that featured two images of Bronco956 set on the same splashy blue background that the con has been using to promote the scores of film and television celebrities who will appear.
Article continues below this ad
More For You
The internet star had been slated to appear on Friday and Sunday afternoon.
The 50-something-year-old Bronco956 first drew notoriety for his resemblance to Mexican singer and songwriter Jose Guadalupe Esparza, who fronted the band Grupo Bronco.
Over the last few years, the Pharr resident has become popular for his regular appearances at the Alamo pulga, or flea market, called Mercadome.
Article continues below this ad
Each weekend, the pulga becomes a hive of social activity as people from across the Valley come to buy clothes, fresh produce and plants, electronics and other assorted trinkets.
The flea market also features a variety of fresh food stalls and an open dance space surrounded by picnic tables.
Couples take to the informal dance floor to move to the rhythm of cumbias, corridos and the top Tejano hits.
Bronco956 — dressed in ostentatious garb featuring wide-brimmed cowboy hats, collared shirts with loud and colorful patterns that he wears unbuttoned to the third button, and flashy mariachi trousers — can often be seen dancing up a storm with equally flashy dance partners.
Article continues below this ad
South Texas Comic Con turned off commenting capabilities on its Facebook post announcing the cancellation, but that didn’t stop people from setting social media on fire at the news.
People speculated that STXCC’s sponsors had threatened to pull out if Bronco956 showed, while others speculated that there were disputes over compensation.
Still others wondered how Bronco956’s appearance would have fit in with the theme of the con, which is dedicated to comics, science fiction and fantasy.
“As a vintage toy/comic book collector, I personally didn’t see the connection to have him being at Comic Con,” Claudia O Penuelas Benitez commented on a post made by a Facebook account that goes by “956 Business Reviews.”
Article continues below this ad
“I mean if he dressed up as Machete that (would) be a different story,” she added, referring to the fictional character made famous by actor Danny Trejo.
Over on Reddit, folks in the r/RioGrandeValley subreddit collectively scratched their heads when Bronco956’s appearance was still a go.
“This has to be a joke. Like a sad, ironic joke,” Reddit user rickestrada commented on Monday night.
Article continues below this ad
“Come meet a living meme,” Redditor Takuachee replied.