Bad Bunny voiced his support for Kamala Harris on Sunday by sharing a video of the Democratic presidential nominee shortly after a comedian at a Trump rally made derogatory remarks about Latinos and referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” provoking outrage among artists and some Hispanic Republicans.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is one of the most popular artists of the moment.
The video Bad Bunny shared with his 45 million Instagram followers shows Harris stating “there’s so much at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico.” A representative of the artist confirmed that Bad Bunny is backing Harris.
Bad Bunny’s endorsement came shortly after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made the offensive remarks about Puerto Rico. Subsequently, Hinchcliffe made another remark, claiming “these Latinos, they love making babies” and suggested they don’t use the pull-out method of birth control.
Harris’ campaign quickly condemned the comments about Puerto Rico, but they were also criticized by Angel Cintron, the head of the GOP on the island, and Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos A. Giménez, who represents parts of Miami and has participated in recent Trump events.
Salazar wrote: “Disgusted by @TonyHinchcliffe’s racist comment calling Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage.’ This rhetoric does not reflect GOP values. Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, with over 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Educate yourself!”
Trump campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez issued a statement saying “this joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
Luis Fonsi, a Puerto Rican artist known for the hit song “Despacito,” took to Instagram and wrote “going down this racist path ain’t it.”
“We are not OK with this constant hate,” he wrote in a message shared on Instagram. “It’s been abundantly clear that these people have no respect for us.”
Ricky Martin, who previously endorsed Harris, was also offended by the comment and said “that’s what they think of us,” on Instagram.
In showing his support, Bad Bunny repeatedly shared another portion of the clip featuring Harris, where she says “I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader.”
The 30-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton artist, known for hit songs such as “Dakiti” and “Titi Me Preguntó,” has won three Grammy Awards. He was the most streamed artist on Spotify in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and was only surpassed by Taylor Swift in 2023. He was named Artist of the Year by Apple Music in 2022.
The Puerto Rican vote is significant in Pennsylvania, which is considered a highly contested swing state in the 2024 election. Other Puerto Rican singers such as Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had previously voiced their support for Harris. Trump has also garnered support from other popular stars from the island such as Anuel AA and Nicky Jam.
Bad Bunny has been vocal in his criticism of Puerto Rico’s electric system, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria. In a 2022 music video for his song “El Apagon,” the artist called out the company Luma Energy, responsible for transmission and distribution, for the constant power outages that plague the island.
One of his most recent songs, “Una Velita,” is also a protest against the government’s response following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017.
A year after the storm, public health experts estimated that nearly 3,000 people perished due to the effects of Hurricane Maria. However, Trump, whose efforts to aid the island territory’s recovery have been consistently criticized, repeatedly questioned that number, claiming it rose “like magic.”
His visit to the island after the hurricane sparked controversy, particularly when he tossed paper towels at victims. His administration released $13 billion in assistance years later, just weeks before the 2020 presidential election. And a federal government watchdog found that officials hindered an investigation into delays in aid delivery.
Bad Bunny also shared a portion of the clip where Harris states that Trump “abandoned the island, tried to block aid after back-to-back devastating hurricanes and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults.”
Harris visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in North Philadelphia earlier on Sunday and unveiled her policy related to the island, stating she wants to create a task force to attract investment for fixing the electrical grid. And Trump is scheduled to visit Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, where over half of the population is Hispanic, with a majority being of Puerto Rican descent.
In 2020, Bad Bunny allowed the Biden campaign to use one of his hits “Pero Ya No” in a TV ad.