October 28th 2024.
In a star-studded event at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was seen posing in the press room at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. A famous and influential artist of the moment, Bad Bunny has a massive following of 45 million on Instagram.
But it wasn't just the glitz and glamour of Hollywood that occupied his attention on that eventful night. Bad Bunny also took the opportunity to show his support for Vice President Kamala Harris. He shared a video of the Democratic presidential nominee, who was speaking about the importance of the upcoming election for Puerto Rican voters and the island itself.
This gesture of support from Bad Bunny could prove to be a significant boost for Harris' campaign, especially with Latino voters. As the competition for the Latino vote heats up, Bad Bunny's backing could help strengthen Harris' position against her opponent, Donald Trump, who has been actively trying to gain ground with this demographic.
The video shared by Bad Bunny shows Harris passionately expressing her concerns for Puerto Rico, while also acknowledging the importance of Puerto Rican voters in the upcoming election. A representative for Bad Bunny confirmed his support for Harris, which came at a crucial time.
This show of support from Bad Bunny came moments after a comedian, Tony Hinchcliffe, made crude and racist jokes about Puerto Ricans at a rally for Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden. Hinchcliffe's derogatory remarks were heavily criticized by not just Harris' campaign, but also by Angel Cintron, the head of the GOP in Puerto Rico, and Republican U.S. Representative Maria Elvira Salazar who represents parts of Miami and has attended recent Trump events.
Salazar, who was disgusted by Hinchcliffe's comments, took to Twitter to condemn them. She wrote, "Disgusted by @TonyHinchcliffe's racist comment calling Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage.' This rhetoric does not reflect GOP values." She further added, "Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, with over 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Educate yourself!"
In response to the backlash, a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign, Danielle Alvarez, released a statement saying, "This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign."
Other prominent Puerto Rican artists like Luis Fonsi, who sings the hit song "Despacito," and Ricky Martin, who had previously endorsed Harris, also expressed their disgust with Hinchcliffe's comments. Fonsi took to Instagram to write, "Going down this racist path ain't it. We are not okay with this constant hate. It's been abundantly clear that these people have no respect for us."
In showing his support for Harris, Bad Bunny shared multiple clips from the video of her speech, where she talks about Trump's lack of support and aid for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. The reggaeton artist, who has won three Grammy Awards, has been vocal about criticizing the island's electric system, which was severely damaged by the hurricane.
In his 2022 music video for "El Apagon," Bad Bunny called out Luma Energy, the company responsible for transmission and distribution, for the constant power outages plaguing Puerto Rico. His recent song, "Una Velita," is also a protest against the government's inadequate response following Hurricane Maria in 2017.
The aftermath of Hurricane Maria saw nearly 3,000 deaths in Puerto Rico, according to public health experts. However, Trump repeatedly questioned this number, saying it rose "like magic." His visit to the island, where he famously tossed paper towels at a crowd, was met with controversy. His administration released $13 billion in assistance years later, just weeks before the 2020 presidential election. A federal government watchdog also found that officials had hindered an investigation into delays in aid delivery.
Earlier on Sunday, Harris visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in North Philadelphia and released her policy related to the island, which includes creating a task force to attract investments and fix the electrical grid. Meanwhile, Trump is scheduled to visit Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, where more than half of the population is Hispanic, with a majority of them being Puerto Ricans.
In 2020, Bad Bunny allowed the Biden campaign to use one of his hits, "Pero Ya No," in a TV ad. With his unwavering support for Harris, Bad Bunny continues to use his platform to speak out against injustice and advocate for the rights of Puerto Ricans.
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