The world’s hottest Latin artist is going global once again, except for one key place. Bad Bunny is skipping the U.S. for his second world tour in fear of ICE (U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) raids. The three time Grammy winning artist is going around the globe for a second round showcasing his new album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (I Should Have Taken More Photos), a homage to his birthplace, Puerto Rico. Though Bad Bunny is from Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, he is afraid for his fans attending the concert with ICE being able to racially discriminate against people of color.
His decision was made to ensure that his Latino fans are protected and is speculated that it was political commentary against U.S. immigration policies, particularly targeting Latinos. In the past, Bad Bunny has criticized past ICE operations in the U.S. and with recent ICE enforcement, Bad Bunny’s decision stems from fear rather than hate.
As an alternative, Bad Bunny has arranged tour dates for Puerto Rico, with his American fans having the opportunity to travel to his birthplace. The world tour has stops everywhere except the U.S. Instead, Bad Bunny has opted for a two month residency in Puerto Rico, performing a dozen concerts in multiple weeks. He hosted around 30 concerts over 10 weeks in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. The commitment to his home island serves as a statement of pride in his roots.
The two month residency has also benefited the Puerto Rico economy, stimulating local businesses. It gives fans the chance to travel to him rather than the other way around, and shows a glimpse into Puerto Rican culture. The first shows he did, however, were reserved for Puerto Rican residents, but one was live streamed for international fans to see. Bad Bunny’s decisions were made to showcase his music but also to support his native community. The album targets the gentrification of his island and displacement of local residents with an influx of wealthy mainlanders. The livestream also had a purpose: Bad Bunny announced a multiyear partnership with Amazon to help the island recover from Hurricane Maria.
Before the beginning of the residency, Bad Bunny posted a message encouraging fans to shop local. Concertgoers went to family-owned restaurants and resided in locally owned hotels during their time in Puerto Rico. He also highlighted local Puerto Rican residents like local fashion designers and other artists at his performances. The concert stagewear was designed by local Boricua/Puerto Rican designers, and local vendors sold handcrafted items. Bad Bunny’s symbolic statements and actions have put a spotlight on Puerto Rican culture, while protesting ICE’s actions within the U.S.
Though his tour is not hitting the U.S., Bad Bunny has made an exception for one stop in America. After his guest appearance in the 2020 Super Bowl, the 12-time Latin Grammy winning artist Bad Bunny accepted the offer to headline the 2026 LX (60) Super Bowl in the 49ers stadium in California. This announcement has since received mixed opinions with backlash from conservative critics. Fresh off a two month residency, he’s drawn in millions of fans while displaying his new album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS and putting a spotlight on Latin culture. Many fans have expressed their disappointment for Bad Bunny skipping the U.S. and this Super Bowl appearance would be their chance to see him.
Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, is in collaboration with the NFL and Apple Music this year to put on the iconic halftime show, and the company has selected Bad Bunny to be the headliner to perform this year. Apple Music and Roc Nation have had a partnership since 2023 to provide the most immersive experience for the Halftime Show, and many fans tune in every year just for the performance.
With a global sensation like Bad Bunny, the producers of the show hope to connect a diverse audience through people who don’t typically watch the game, and expand the cultural impact. With this year’s show having significant themes and symbolic storytelling, it gained lots of traction especially with the spotlight on political issues in America. The selection of Bad Bunny for the Halftime Show was very purposeful since in recent events, he has criticized the actions of ICE. His performance would bring Latin culture to the forefront with the Super Bowl being a massively streamed event.
