Juan Carlos is king of the ringtones

Updated 07.27 Thu Nov 22 2007

Keywords: Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, Spain, Juan Carlos

Who would have thought a diplomatic row between Spain and Venezuela could spark a multi-million dollar ringtone phenomenon?

During a heated confrontation at a recent summit in Chile, controversial Venezuelan Prime Minister Hugo Chavez repeatedly called former Spanish PM Jose Maria Aznar a "fascist."

Eventually, a frustrated King Juan Carlos leaned forward and uttered the immortal words "Por que no te callas?" - or "Why don't you shut up?"

An angry Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Mr Aznar's successor, told Mr Chavez to be more diplomatic and show respect for other delegates, but the Venezuelan leader kept interrupting.

Eventually, a frustrated King Juan Carlos leaned forward and uttered the immortal words "Por que no te callas?" - or "Why don't you shut up?".

The run-in has amused millions of Spaniards and has now generated over $2 million in ringtone sales after an estimated 500,000 people downloaded the phrase in a variety of versions from rap to the paso doble.

Caracas student Miguel Padilla said: "A friend of mine in the university sent it to me - it is being sent among everyone, and that is the boom now."

He added: "I even have it as a text message and well, you see that everyone has it."

And it's not just a de riguer ringtone. T-shirts and mugs featuring the words are also becoming a profitable business while videos of the confrontation have been a hit on YouTube.

Student Jenny Romero, 21, said: "The king said what Venezuelans have wanted to say to Chavez's face for a long time.

"I'm wearing this T-shirt to protest everything bad that has happened in the country."