DJ Dipstick – the New Poster Boy for the Anti-Tourist Mob

Thomas Wesley Pentz, a 45 year old American DJ and music producer – known professionally as Diplo – has been in the news this week.

In all his and his management team’s wisdom they organised a ‘secret party’ on the viewpoint overlooking Es Vedra, one of the most iconic natural beauty spots in Ibiza.

As is the way these days they plastered it all over Instagram for maximum coverage of their coolness but there is a slight problem. This is a protected area with special laws to stop this specific kind of activity.

The Spanish islands have been in the news a lot lately. There’s been an uprising of locals protesting about the saturation of tourism and the effect it’s having on the environment and living conditions for residents. So you can imagine the furore when Mr Pentz’s videos and photos were uploaded, it was fuel on the fire, the natives were not happy.

In their eyes it’s just another example of the tourism machine doing what it wants, when it wants with no thought for anything or anyone else.

DJ Diplo is now the shining light of disrespect, the spiritual leader of the ‘we don’t give a fuck’ gang, the boss of giving the finger to the locals and their laws.

I’m sure his friends and management will jump to his defence saying he didn’t realise it was such a controversial thing to do and he didn’t mean to offend anyone but that doesn’t matter. He did it.

I’m one of those offended that the special place I go to watch the sunset over Es Vedra was even more saturated by a sweaty mob, cheering and swaying to his music. Es Vedra is our Ayers Rock, it (or she as some say) belongs to no one and everyone. It’s arguably the most iconic spot on the island and is a sanctuary for those looking for some peace, tranquility and, dare I say it, spirituality.

For Mr Pentz to use it to promote himself, his night at Pacha and boost his Instagram profile is not just crude, it’s downright disrespectful and shows how out of touch he is with the island. What’s more it gives the anti-tourist zealots even more reasons to jump up and down and decry the most important commodity the island possesses.

The authorities have threatened to fine him thousands of euros and I sincerely hope they do although I doubt it will ever see the light of court.

It doesn’t matter to be honest because the damage has been done, the anti-tourist mob have their poster boy and Diplo, the entitled DJ, with his hundred million dollar estate in Jamaica, his chauffeur driven black Mercedes minivan with complimentary drinks is that man.

While DJ Dipstick departs on his private jet, the rest of us, who live here reliant of tourism, are left to read the sensationalist headlines, fend off the radicals and pick up the pieces. I hope he’s proud of himself but as long as his 6.2 million Instagram followers enjoyed it, I suppose that’s all that matters.