The TTC just busted the guy who plays Despacito on the subway
A young man known for playing the song "Despacito" on an accordion while riding Toronto's subway system has officially been fined by the TTC — but is $235 enough to end his reign of auditory terror?
It doesn't even matter, because (as suspected) there's another one of him out there. Sort of.
The National Post reports that transit enforcement officers "busted" one of two Italian brothers believed to be the Despacito guys on Monday around 11:15 a.m.
TTC busts one of Toronto's Despacito brothers: Accordionist fined $235 for playing on subway https://t.co/969RUk3Le9 pic.twitter.com/qCZLU2c2Rh
— National Post (@nationalpost) April 30, 2018
Special constables reportedly caught up with the accordion player on Line 1 near St. Andrews Station and asked him to step off the train at Union Station.
It was on the platform there that officers showed the man video clips of himself (the Despacito guy who wears black) and his brother (the Despacito guy who wears red).
Both brothers, who hail from Rome and speak limited English, had already been issued warnings for their behaviour based on customer complaints.
Hey @TTChelps the Despacito bandit is still at it today. pic.twitter.com/kfCrEYumHQ
— Baseball Season (@99Goldenhawk) April 26, 2018
The Despacito guy readily admitted to officers that he was one of the men seen on camera, according to the National Post, and remained polite and agreeable even as he was issued an infraction notice.
When asked if he would continue to play Despacito on the subway, the young man is said to have replied "No, no" — which comes as welcome news to critics.
"Finally. Playing Despacito on an accordion in a crowded subway, while people just want to get home after a long day at work, should be an indictable offence," wrote one local on Twitter in response to the story. "Punishable by death."
They busted one of the accordion playing idiots who kept playing Despacito on the subway. Sometimes the world is good
— â (@AnnStann) April 30, 2018
Fans, on the other hand, are disappointed to learn that this might be the end of the line for Toronto's Despacito dudes.
And yes, there are fans — about as many as haters, I'd say, judging by what's been posted about them on Twitter and Facebook.
"I'm genuinely kind of sad that one of the Despacito accordion guys got busted," wrote another TTC rider. "I know, I know, infractions, annoying, not a TTC approved musician.... But still. It was kind of great."
There’s a guy going around my city playing Despacito on the accordion and honestly this just made my day. You keep accordioning, dude! Thanks for the smile.#ThisiswhyIloveToronto #accordionisunderrated pic.twitter.com/kXB6Z0Xf04
— Samantha Joyce (@SamJoyceBooks) April 20, 2018
