Just days before what could be his biggest global showcase, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known worldwide as Bad Bunny, turned his moment of glory into a platform of political resistance to criticize the immigration policy initiated by President Donald Trump and ICE.
When he took the stage at the Grammy Awards this Sunday, February 1, to accept his award, the Puerto Rican artist set aside traditional thank-you remarks to deliver a passionate defense of the immigrant community in the United States.
Holding the golden gramophone, Benito began his speech by thanking God, but immediately shifted the focus to the current immigration situation. “I want to say thank you to God, Ice Out,” the singer proclaimed, directly referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that has carried out multiple raids since Trump’s return to the presidency, some of which have resulted in deaths.
Speaking in clear and deliberate English, aiming for his message to resonate across every corner of the nation, Bad Bunny continued:
“We are not savage, we are not animals, we are not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.”
The speech, which was met with a mix of applause and astonishment inside the venue, concluded with a call for unity in the face of divisive rhetoric: “The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So, please, we need to be different.”
Bad Bunny’s words were not improvised. In recent months, he has intensified his activism against ICE raids and mass deportation policies. The artist has used his massive influence and resources to support civil rights organizations that provide legal assistance to undocumented families, positioning himself as one of the most outspoken critics of the dehumanization of Latinos in the United States.
Criticism and rising tension ahead of Super Bowl 60
The explosive Grammys speech serves as a high-tension prelude to his upcoming performance at the Super Bowl 60 Halftime Show, scheduled for February 8. The Puerto Rican star’s participation has been surrounded by controversy since it was announced.
Recent reports revealed that several NFL team owners initially expressed “concern” about whether an artist who sings predominantly in Spanish could connect with the event’s broad audience.
Adding to the pressure, direct attacks have emerged from the political sphere. President Donald Trump recently declared himself to be “anti-them” (referring to Bad Bunny and Green Day), criticizing their political stances and stating that he will not attend the event.
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