Whether it is from his hit songs “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” “Titi Me Pregunto,” his campaigns with Calvin Klein or endorsements with Kamala Harris, you have probably heard of Bad Bunny. The artist, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, will kick off his world tour in celebration of his new album, “DeBI TiRAR MaS FOToS,” in November of this year. Despite his tour being labeled and advertised as global, Bad Bunny will not perform in the U.S. as a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE], thus taking a firm stand on his beliefs and protecting his Latino fans. Despite being American himself, born in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny is entirely correct to not tour in the country to follow through with his values.
As of now, Bad Bunny is set to play in Latin America, Europe, Oceania and Asia. In an interview with CNN, he opened up about his reasoning for skipping the U.S. on his tour. “There was an issue that […] ICE could be outside [my concert venues in America]. And it’s something that we were talking about and [are] very concerned about,” Bad Bunny said. Being a singer who performs in Spanish, he has an abundance of Latino fans. An artist’s identity heavily relies on their fan base and Bad Bunny is no different. Taking a firm stand against an organization he does not believe in and their operations leaves Bad Bunny as one of the most genuine celebrities to truly back up his public opinion, unlike others who only leave a tweet.
Despite purposefully leaving the U.S. out of his world tour, Bad Bunny is still connected to the star-spangled country. He is performing at the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Although it is not his first time, people of all opinions agree that this performance is different because he chose to perform at one of the biggest sporting events of the year for a country he is not touring in. This ignited passionate views from Americans across the board, with some saying that he is not a ‘true American’ to others who argue that his choice makes him a patriotic hero.
An artist can pick and choose when and where they want to perform, especially one as well-known and influential as Bad Bunny. It would be frankly hypocritical for him to tour in a place where his fan base could be detained, and frankly dense of him to pass up the unparalleled opportunity of headlining the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is not directly connected to Bad Bunny, whereas his tour has his name in bright lights, and that puts on him a sense of responsibility for the safety of those in the audience. Going to the Super Bowl is incomparable to choosing not to tour and thus should not be used as ammunition against the artist’s personal choices.
The relationship between an artist and their fans is one that is unlike any other. It is stronger than a conversation and messages, and instead is a way for one person’s art to bring millions of others together. It is a connection that is made on a personal level despite never knowing the creator personally. The fact that Bad Bunny’s music has touched so many lives around the globe is something to celebrate even without a tour. He is still visiting different continents besides the U.S. because he has generated enough fame outside of it, which is an incredible feat. Bad Bunny would never jeopardize his relationship with his fans because he relies on them to support his art. By not touring in the U.S., he protects his bond with his listeners by shielding them from potential threat.
Furthermore, Bad Bunny is a major player in American pop culture, acting in major Hollywood films such as “Caught Stealing” with Austin Butler and “Happy Gilmore 2” with Adam Sandler. Other than movies, the artist has appeared on “Saturday Night Live” six times as both a musical guest and host. The most recent of which was on Oct. 4, where he addressed playing at the Super Bowl in a typical “Saturday Night Live” fashion. He expressed his excitement for the performance, which caused the crowd to burst into cheers. There are mixed opinions about his choice to not tour in a country he is still connected to. In an interview with CNN, he said, “There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate […] I’ve enjoyed connecting with Latinos who have been living in the United States.” For Bad Bunny, as a true public figure, his fans come first.