Two-time Latin Grammy winner and South Texas Tejano icon Bobby Pulido says TikTok has banned his longtime music account, claiming the platform identified the profile as an impersonation account. Pulido, who is now campaigning for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, addressed the suspension Tuesday and questioned whether politics may have played a role in the decision.
Pulido shared the news with followers in a social media video, expressing frustration that the account he says was his primary music presence on TikTok was removed while he is in the middle of a closely watched congressional campaign.
“So I got some bad news. My dad would say there’s a fungus among us. I smell a rat,” Pulido said.
He continued, explaining that TikTok told him the account had been banned for impersonation.
“But we got banned from TikTok, and it said that we were impersonating. That account is my music page, which is the biggest one that I have on TikTok.”
Pulido’s account, @bobbypulido425, has long been identified as his official music account. Public social-media listings show the profile as Bobby Pulido’s official account and list more than 160,000 followers.
Pulido questions timing of TikTok ban
The singer-turned-politician said the timing of the ban raised questions for him, particularly because prominent Latino content creator Carlos Eduardo Espina also experienced a TikTok suspension around the same time.
Espina, a Uruguayan-American immigrant-rights activist and one of the largest Spanish-language social-media creators in the United States, reported that TikTok had blocked his account with more than 14 million followers on August 30. Reports said the platform cited alleged violations of its community guidelines, while Espina questioned whether his political content was connected to the action.
Espina’s account was reportedly restored within approximately 24 hours. Pulido referenced Espina and other creators while discussing his own situation.
“Coincidentally, they also banned Carlos Eduardo Espina and other influencers. This is how important this election is.”
Pulido said he and his team have attempted to obtain an explanation from TikTok but have not received a satisfactory answer.
“They haven’t been able to resolve why they banned us. We’re trying to get an answer, can’t get an answer. It smells political, and I hope I’m wrong.”
TikTok has not publicly explained Pulido’s ban
At this time, there does not appear to be a public statement from TikTok explaining why Pulido’s account was removed.
TikTok’s own help-center information says accounts can be banned for violations of its Community Guidelines and provides an appeals process for users who believe a ban was made in error. The platform also maintains specific policies addressing impersonation.
That distinction is important because Pulido is alleging a possible political connection, but there is currently no public evidence establishing that TikTok banned his account because of his political views or campaign.
Pulido himself acknowledged that uncertainty when he said, “I hope I’m wrong.”
Pulido’s music account predates his congressional campaign
The TikTok account at the center of the dispute was established as Pulido’s music presence, rather than as a campaign account. That distinction is significant because Pulido has built a decades-long career as one of the most recognizable names in Tejano music.
Pulido as a two-time Latin Grammy winner, including his 2025 win for Best Tejano Music Album for Bobby Pulido & Friends Una Tuya y Una Mía (Vol. 1) (En Vivo).
His career traces back to the mid-1990s and the release of his breakthrough album Desvelado, which established him as one of the leading stars of modern Tejano music.
From Tejano star to congressional candidate
Pulido entered politics after decades in the music industry and is now seeking to represent Texas’ 15th Congressional District as a Democrat.
Pulido is a Democratic challenger in the 2026 race. He is challenging Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz in a South Texas district that has become a major battleground for both parties.
Recent reporting has highlighted the race as one of the key congressional contests in Texas, with national Democratic groups investing in the district. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has placed Pulido in its Red to Blue program, while Republicans have targeted the candidate as they defend De La Cruz’s seat.
The political stakes make Pulido’s concerns about social-media access particularly significant. TikTok has become an important platform for reaching younger and Latino voters, and losing an established account can significantly reduce a candidate’s ability to communicate directly with an audience.
Pulido: “We’re not supposed to be for censorship”
Pulido connected the TikTok suspension to a broader argument about free expression and political censorship.
“This is not the country that we should live in, where they censor us based on politics.”
He also referenced the restructuring of TikTok’s U.S. business, noting that a group of American investors took significant control of the platform’s U.S. operations. That transaction involved Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, which together were reported to own 45% of the U.S. operation, with ByteDance retaining a minority stake.
Pulido suggested that the new ownership structure makes the situation even more troubling in his view.
“Now not that long ago, a big investor group that supports the president actually bought TikTok, a majority interest.”
The ownership structure itself, however, does not establish a connection between the investors and Pulido’s account suspension.
“Get out and vote”
Despite the setback, Pulido used the controversy to encourage South Texas voters to become more engaged in the upcoming election.
“So get out and vote, people, please. Let’s get mobilized because things are not good.”
He concluded by reiterating his opposition to censorship:
“We’re not supposed to be for censorship. This is crazy.”
For now, Pulido says his team is seeking answers from TikTok and attempting to determine why his longtime music account was removed.
The incident comes at a particularly consequential moment for the Tejano star, whose transition from a three-decade music career to a congressional campaign has placed him at the intersection of Tejano culture, Latino political engagement and social-media influence.
Whether the TikTok ban was the result of an automated moderation decision, an impersonation complaint, another violation of the platform’s policies, or something else remains unclear.
Tejano Nation will continue to follow the story as more information becomes available from Pulido, his campaign or TikTok.
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