Bad Bunny, the famous Puerto Rican artist, shared the reasons behind his choice not to embark on a tour across the mainland U.S. One significant factor? His worries about ICE targeting concertgoers.
This weekend, the beloved star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, will finish up a 30-night residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan.
Opting for this local residency allowed him to perform in a place that feels like home—an unincorporated territory of the U.S.—rather than hitting the road in the continental states.
In a fresh chat with i-D magazine, Bad Bunny addressed whether his decision was influenced by concerns over President Trump’s push for mass deportations of Latinos this past year.
“Honestly, yes,” he candidly admitted. “I had a lot of reasons not to go to the U.S., and not a single one was based on hate—I’ve had plenty of great shows there. Every performance has been amazing. Connecting with Latinos in the U.S. has been a pleasure.”
He elaborated, “Doing a residency here in Puerto Rico makes sense, especially since we’re a U.S. territory… People can easily travel here for the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans from the States can come whenever they want.”
However, he voiced concern about the looming presence of ICE at his concerts, stating, “We were genuinely worried that, like, ICE could be outside.”
In June, Bad Bunny gained attention for posting a video on social media that highlighted an ICE raid occurring in Puerto Rico, where he didn’t hold back in criticizing the officers, calling them “motherf***ers” and “sons of b****es.”
His original clip showed law enforcement next to SUVs with flashing lights, and he narrated the situation in Spanish, arguing they were “over there messing with the people instead of doing their jobs.” He was definitely voicing the frustrations felt by his community.
As a prominent voice against ongoing mass deportation efforts from ICE formed under Trump’s requests, Bad Bunny isn’t alone. Notably, actress and producer Eva Longoria also condemned these deportations in a heartfelt TikTok video, describing them as “inhumane” and hard to witness.
