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Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor Don Omar took to Instagram on Monday, June 17, and shared he was battling cancer. He posted a picture of his hand wearing a red and white hospital bracelet from Orlando Health in Orlando, Florida.
In the caption, he wrote in Spanish, which when translated to English, reads:
“Today yes, but tomorrow I will be cancer free. Good intentions are well received. See you all soon. #f*ckcancer”
So far, the exact form of cancer that the 46-year-old actor was diagnosed with remains undisclosed.
Several Puerto Rican celebrities including Jerry Rivera, Ozuna, Jowell, Olga Tanon, Daddy Yankee, and Farruko commented on his post and extended their heartfelt support.
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Exploring the life and career of Don Omar
Don Omar, whose real name is William Omar Landron Rivera, was born in the Santurce neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in February 1978. At a young age, he found his interest in music and was inspired by reggae musicians Vico C and Brewly MC.
He soon began performing at nightclubs across his country and collaborating with DJs and producers, including Luny Tunes, Noriega, and DJ Eric, to compile albums. Later, he also worked as a backup singer for the duo Hector & Tito, who in turn helped him to release his debut studio album, The Last Don, in 2003.
The commercially and critically acclaimed venture made Don Omar one of the pioneers in modern reggaeton music, the Puerto Rican form of hip-hop dance music.
The album sold over one million copies and was certified double platinum in the USA. It also became the Album of the Year in the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2003 and was nominated for the 2005 Latin Grammy Award.
The follow-up albums include King of Kings (2006), iDon (2009), Don Omar Presents: Meet the Orphans (2010), and Don Omar Presents MTO2: New Generation (2012) – all of which were successful.
Often dubbed the “King of Reggaeton” by fans, a title he shares with Puerto Rican rapper-singer Daddy Yankee, Omar describes himself as the “El Rey” of reggaeton. In 2015, he paid homage to his reggaeton roots. He released a sequel to his first album titled The Last Don II, which included collaborations with Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderon, and the duo Wisin & Yandel.
Regarded as one of the best-selling Latin musicians of all time, Don Omar has sold more than 15 million records. In 2017, he announced his retirement after the three-day concert at Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Puerto Rico.
However, he returned two years later, in April 2019, with the hit single Ramayama featuring Farruko. He followed it up with the 2023 comeback album Forever King.
Besides his music career, the Guinness World Record holder has also appeared in several films of the Fast & Furious franchise in the role of street racer Rico Santos.
El Rey was married to Puerto Rican weather forecaster and journalist Jackie Guerrido from 2008 until their divorce in 2011. The reggaeton star has three children, sons Dereck and Daniel and daughter Diana.
Currently, Omar is gearing up for the 18-date second leg of his Back to Reggaeton U.S. tour, which is set to kickstart in Oakland, California, on August 7 amid his cancer battle. The tour will continue till the middle of September. The 20-date first leg of the tour spanned between March 7 and April 21, 2024.
