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What was meant to be a weekend of music and unforgettable memories at the Axe Ceremonia 2025 festival turned into a tragedy. According to El Universal, Berenice Giles Rivera and Miguel Ángel Hernández—two photographers covering the event for the independent outlet Mr. Indie—died after a metal structure, part of the festival’s decorative setup, collapsed. In response, authorities canceled the second day of the festival while investigations are underway and responsibilities are being determined.
Hours after the tragedy and the confirmation of the deaths of the two young journalists, the festival organizers released a statement on social media. They expressed their sorrow over the incident and pledged full support to the families of Berenice and Miguel Ángel, as well as their willingness to cooperate with authorities.
"With deep sadness, we confirm the passing of the two individuals who were injured during today's incident," they wrote in the opening lines. "We are deeply saddened by this loss. We are reaching out to their families to be with them during this incredibly difficult time and to offer our full support and solidarity," they added.
Following their initial statement, the organizers of Axe Ceremonia 2025 posted another update on the morning of Sunday, April 6, confirming that all activities scheduled for the second day had been canceled.
“In light of the unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday, we inform you that it has been decided to suspend today’s scheduled events in accordance with the guidelines set by the relevant authorities,” they stated, once again expressing their solidarity with the families of the victims.
Meanwhile, the media outlet Berenice Giles Rivera and Miguel Ángel Hernández worked for, Mr. Indie, also released a statement on social media.
"With deep sadness, we say goodbye to our friends and colleagues, Berenice Giles and Miguel Hernández, who lost their lives while carrying out their journalistic work. Both were an essential part of Mr. Indie, a platform that exists thanks to the passion of people like them," the statement read.
"From our space, we want to honor their dedication, their love for music and photography, and their commitment to this project, which was also theirs," they added.
Local Authorities’ Response
In the wake of the tragic events at Parque Bicentenario, located in the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Mexico City, local authorities issued a statement addressing the situation. They explained that the metal structure that collapsed had not been present during the official safety inspection conducted prior to the event.
“At the time of the inspection yesterday, which involved various CDMX government bodies and the Miguel Hidalgo Borough (AMH), those cranes were not installed at the site,” the statement read. “It was a last-minute decision by the private organizers to install them today during the concert, which led to the collapse that injured two individuals who, unfortunately, died after being transferred to Rubén Leñero Hospital.”
Authorities emphasized that this violation—which was never disclosed to the borough in the special event program—was the reason for the suspension of the second day of the festival.
Charli XCX Sends Her Condolences
© Corbis via Getty ImagesBritish pop star Charli XCX, who performed on the first day of Axe Ceremonia 2025, expressed her solidarity with the families of the victims following the tragic incident.
"My heart is with the families and friends of Miguel and Berenice," the singer shared on her social media platforms, joining the outpouring of support and condolences from the music and media communities.
The Axe Ceremonia 2025 lineup brings together a solid mix of international and local talent. Set for April 5 and 6 at Parque Bicentenario in Mexico City, the festival will feature these headliners and artists:
Headliners Axe Ceremonia 2025
- Tyler, The Creator
- Natanael Cano
- Charli XCX
- Massive Attack
- Parcels
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT)
- Gesaffelstein
- FKA Twigs
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