Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny voiced his support for Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday after he shared a video on social media of the Democratic candidate’s plans for Puerto Rico.
Bad Bunny’s post came following controversial remarks made about the island at a Donald Trump rally, which has now sparked widespread outrage.
His support is seen as crucial for the U.S. Vice President, as both the Trump and Harris campaigns were vying for the Puerto Rican vote, especially in battleground Pennsylvania, which is home to around 500,000 Puerto Ricans.
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Originally known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Bad Bunny shared Harris’ campaign video with his more than 45 million Instagram followers. In the video, Harris condemns Trump’s handling of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Bad Bunny, J. Lo and Ricky Martin have over 315 million followers on Instagram alone. This is the Puerto Rican version of the Avengers joining forces to support Kamala Harris. pic.twitter.com/MjRoMkD6YI
— Brian McBride ???? ???? (@BrianDMcBride) October 27, 2024
“I will never forget what Donald Trump did and didn’t do when Puerto Rico needed a competent leader,” Harris says in the video, which Bad Bunny reshared multiple times. “He abandoned the island, tried to block aid after devastating hurricanes, and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults.”
Back in 2017, thousands of Puerto Ricans died following Hurricane Maria, only after Hurricane Irma left much of the island without power.
Trump at the time faced criticism when he visited the island and tossed supplies, which included paper towels to residents of the island.
Bad Bunny’s post marks the first visible support from the artist as Harris’s campaign seeks celebrity endorsements. According to a CNN report, his post came as backlash mounted over comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s remarks at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally.
“There’s a lot going on; I don’t know if you know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the ocean right now. Yeah, I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” Hinchcliffe said. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory.
Harris’s campaign had reportedly been in talks with Bad Bunny’s team, hoping he would back her plan for Puerto Rico.
“This has been a thoughtful and deliberate approach focused on the issues,” said a source familiar with the discussions.
A representative for Bad Bunny told CNN that his reposting of Harris’s video on Instagram was “not an endorsement” but showed “support” for Harris’s efforts. “Benito’s political focus has always been on Puerto Rico,” the representative said, without confirming a formal endorsement.
For Kamala Harris, securing Bad Bunny’s endorsement has been a priority for her campaign, especially given his influence within the Latino community. Campaign insiders believe his support could help sway young Latino men, a demographic that had shown some support for Trump.
The Harris campaign also noted support from other Puerto Rican stars, including Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and “Despacito” singer Luis Fonsi.
Fonsi reacted to Hinchcliffe’s comments by posting, “Are you serious?” to his 16 million Instagram followers, and added, “It’s ok to have different views, but going down this racist path ain’t it.”
Earlier on Sunday, Harris visited Freddy & Tony’s Restaurant, a Puerto Rican spot in North Philadelphia, where she addressed the challenges facing Puerto Rico and discussed her plans for the island.
“I’m going to create an opportunity economy task force for Puerto Rico,” Harris said, adding that she aims to boost economic opportunity and improve the island’s electrical grid.
