How Bad Bunny could change Puerto Rican history
As Hispanic Heritage Month ends, with every Latine country celebrating independence, Puerto Rico faces intense political turmoil that could reshape the history of the one of the only Latine communities still under colonial rule. Puerto Rican artists like Bad Bunny have stepped into the political arena, making the island’s upcoming elections truly historic.
Regardless of the election results in the months to come, Bad Bunny's politicization will create a new standard for artists’ participation in politics and change the way people in Puerto Rico vote.
While many fans appreciate Bad Bunny’s music, few recognize his background as an artist influenced by a repressive colonial system. With fans worldwide, Bad Bunny’s activism has the potential to bring attention to Puerto Rico’s political crisis. In the United States, where he is widely recognized, this could lead to significant discussions about Puerto Rico’s political status.
Image: Bad Bunny holding up a Puerto Rican flag in the protests of 2019, calling for the resignation of PNP governor, Ricardo Rosselló. (Courtesy of Getty Images)
As one of the only remaining U.S. colonies, it is especially crucial for Americans to understand why the upcoming elections are so significant for Puerto Rican history. Understanding Puerto Rico's political landscape is crucial, not just for Puerto Ricans, but for everyone who values democracy and self-determination.
Bad Bunny’s artistic image has always been about resistance. On an NPR Code Switch episode, Vanesa Díaz explained his significance “...he is powerful in many ways because he is an artist of resistance and refusal—refusal to accommodate, refusal to speak English, refusal to say anything explicitly about his sexuality beyond who he's dating in the moment.”
As Díaz explains, it’s the artist’s identity as a Puerto Rican, shaped by direct colonialism, that has fostered his spirit of refusal and resistance.
For those unfamiliar with his character, it was surprising to see him enter the political debate, to the point where politicians have publicly threatened him. But for those of us who recognize the character Díaz references, his political involvement comes as no surprise.
The turmoil began when Bad Bunny, known as Benito by many fans, appeared on El Tony’s podcast ‘El Tony Pregunta’ where he said, “All of the sudden I become bipolar when the elections roll around because I don’t want to release a track saying, ‘Jennifer [the] liar, don’t be a liar…Death to the PNP, all who are corrupt, Puerto Rico deserves better.”
After calling out the New Progressive Party’s (PNP) candidate, Jennifer Gonzalez, Bad Bunny’s critical song about her went viral on TikTok, gaining millions of views.
The PNP, which advocates for Puerto Rican statehood, is one of two major parties that have historically dominated the territory’s politics. Since 2020, at least 25 government officials from the PNP have been accused of fraud and corruption.
Ricardo Rosselló, the former governor who resigned amid island-wide protests and discontent, belonged to this party, along with many of his allies and accomplices who remain active in political roles.
Bad Bunny’s song calling out the PNP for its corrupt track record has reached over 4,000 uses on TikTok, with many videos racking up more than 100,000 likes.
TikTok user Kevincho shared a dance video to the song that hit 50,000 likes, captioned “Me dancing to this song even though I’m not from P.R.”
Bad Bunny has not directly endorsed a political candidate, but he has urged Puerto Ricans not to “vote for the same ones,” implying support for a third-party option.
Similar to the United States, Puerto Rico has a bipartisan political landscape, and the rise of a third-party candidate seems to challenge this system. The favored third-party candidate in this election is Juan Dalmau, representing the Puerto Rico Independence Party (PIP).
Bad Bunny's main message, however, is about creating a change by encouraging young people to vote.
In order to understand the influence this media movement could have in the upcoming elections, we must consider several important points. Firstly, the population of Puerto Rico is 3.2 million, and many of these videos already have hundreds of thousands of likes. The most viewed TikTok under this sound has 1.7 million views, a video of the moment Bad Bunny debuted the song. Secondly, in the last month Puerto Ricans have witnessed a sudden and dramatic rise in the number of people registered to vote. According to a report from September 4th by El Nuevo Día, 300 students registered to vote, with dozens more waiting in line at a single location on that day. Another report by El Nuevo Día highlighted that the number of returning voters has reached 83,945, an increase from the 78,085 voters who completed this process in 2020.
Shortly after Jennifer’s song started trending, Bad Bunny announced on Twitter that he had paid to display billboards across the island with provocative messages such as: “Voting for the PNP is voting for LUMA,” as well as “Anyone who votes for the PNP doesn't love Puerto Rico,” and “Voting for the PNP is voting for corruption.”
LUMA Energy, the private company responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity in Puerto Rico since 2021, represents the first privatization of the island's electricity system. Despite widespread calls to cancel LUMA due to daily power outages and rising electricity costs, current governor Pedro Pierluisi (PNP) has stated he will not terminate the contract, citing the pending bankruptcy of the Electric Power Authority. As a result, the cancellation of LUMA’s contract has become a key issue in the upcoming elections.
In light of Bad Bunny’s billboards, the PNP did not stay silent; they responded by putting up their own signs that read, “On November 5th, we’re taking it all home! So, that Benito _ucks!”
In another incident, Senator Gregorio Matias (PNP) appeared on Lo Sé Todo and made statements that many online users and media personalities interpreted as direct threats to Bad Bunny.
“November 5th will start with a good rabbit stew in Vega Baja, and we’ll eat it in Calle 13 in Trujillo Alto,” he said. “He wants to be a bad bunny, so we are looking for him…and we’re going to silence him.”
Bad Bunny continues to express his political opinions despite the threats to silence him. This is the first time in Puerto Rican history that an artist’s opinions and actions have had a substantial reaction from both politicians and the Puerto Rican public. His bold actions are energizing the youth and sparking vital conversations about the island's future.
With many fans sharing his popular songs, it’s important for people to understand the political messages behind them. Rather than blindly consuming his music, fans have the opportunity to educate themselves on the context of his criticism.
Bad Bunny's lyrics—“Nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana”—capture the uncertainty of the situation perfectly. As the elections approach, his influence has already begun to reshape voting behaviors and highlight the power of artists in driving activism for a better Puerto Rico.