Election 2024: Bad Bunny supports Kamala Harris for president

Bad Bunny supported Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday by sharing a video of the Democratic presidential candidate shortly after one Comedian at Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden made crude jokes about Latinos and called Puerto Rico a “floating island of trash,” angering artists and some Hispanic Republicans.

Bad Bunny, whose official name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is one of the most famous artists working today. His support could give the Harris campaign a boost as it seeks to shore up its support among Latino voters, where Trump is trying to gain ground.

The video, shared by Bad Bunny with his 45 million Instagram followers, shows Harris saying, “There is so much at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico,” a rep for the artist confirmed that Bad Bunny supports Harris.

Bad Bunny signaled his support shortly after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made the Puerto Rico comment. Hinchcliffe later said, “These Latinos love making babies” and said they do not use contraception.

The comments about Puerto Rico drew immediate criticism from Harris' campaign team, but were also criticized by Angel Cintron, the island's GOP chairman, and Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, who represents parts of Miami and recently voted in elections Trump events.

Salazar wrote, “Disgusting at “@TonyHinchcliffe's racist comment calling Puerto Rico a 'floating island of trash.'” This rhetoric does not reflect Republican values. Puerto Rico sent more than 48,000 soldiers to Vietnam, awarding over 345 Purple Hearts. This courage deserves respect. Educate yourself!”

Trump campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement: “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”

Luis Fonsi, a Puerto Rican artist who sings the hit “Despacito,” wrote on Instagram: “Taking this racist path is not that.”

“We do not agree with this constant hatred,” he wrote in a message shared on Instagram. “It’s abundantly clear that these people have no respect for us.”

Ricky Martin, who previously supported Harris, was also offended by the comment, saying on Instagram: “That's what they think about us.”

To show his support, Bad Bunny shared another portion of the clip Harris made about Puerto Rico several times, saying, “I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he didn't do in making Puerto Rico a caring person.” and competent leader was needed.”

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton artist with popular songs like “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 Apple Music Artist of the Year in 2022.

In Pennsylvania, arguably the most hotly contested swing state in the 2024 election, the Puerto Rican electorate is significant. Other Puerto Rican singers such as Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had already expressed their support for Harris. Trump has also received support from other popular stars on the island such as Anuel AA and Nicky Jam.

Bad Bunny has been vocal in his criticism of Puerto Rico's power grid, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria. In a music video for his 2022 song “El Apagon”, the artist blamed the transmission and distribution company Luma Energy for the constant power outages plaguing the island.

One of his most recent songs, “Una Velita,” is also a protest against the government's response after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017.

A year after the storm, health experts estimated that nearly 3,000 people died from the effects of Hurricane Maria. But Trump, whose efforts to help the island territory recover have been repeatedly criticized, repeatedly questioned that number, saying it had risen “as if by magic.”

His visit to the island after the hurricane sparked controversy, such as when he threw paper towels. Years later, just weeks before the 2020 presidential election, his administration released $13 billion in aid. And a federal government watchdog found that officials obstructed an investigation into delays in the delivery of aid.

Bad Bunny also shared a portion of the clip in which Harris said Trump had “abandoned the island, tried to block aid after back-to-back devastating hurricanes, and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults.”

Earlier Sunday, Harris visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in North Philadelphia and announced her policy on the island, saying she wanted to create a task force to attract investment to repair the power grid. And Trump is traveling on Tuesday to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where more than half the population is Hispanic and the majority of them are from Puerto Rico.

In 2020, Bad Bunny allowed the Biden campaign to use one of his hits, “Pero Ya No,” in a television commercial.