It started with a wax figure. Most people don't know that Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—the guy the world knows as Bad Bunny—once stood next to a wax statue of Jimmy Fallon at Madame Tussauds and told himself he’d be on that stage one day.
It wasn't just some idle daydream. It was a manifesto.
When he finally made his debut on The Tonight Show in September 2018, he didn't just come out and play a radio hit. He stood there and used his platform to talk about the devastation of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. He performed "Estamos Bien" while the screen behind him flashed images of the island's struggle. Honestly, that was the moment the American late-night audience realized this wasn't just another reggaeton star. He was something else entirely.
The 2025 Co-Hosting Chaos
Fast forward to January 2025. Bad Bunny didn't just show up to promote his latest album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. He basically moved in.
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He served as a guest co-host, a rarity for Fallon’s tenure. They kicked things off with a cold open that felt like peak New York. Benito and Jimmy went down to the 50th St. subway station in full-on disguises—fake beards, wigs, the whole nine yards. They started busking, playing a bizarrely endearing cover of the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way."
The crowd didn't have a clue. Then, they ripped off the costumes, the beat for "NUEVAYoL" dropped, and the station turned into a riot.
Why the chemistry is real
You’ve seen these late-night interviews where everything feels staged. This isn't that. When Bad Bunny is on the couch, things get weird in a good way. In that January episode, they literally swapped places. Benito sat in the host's chair and started interviewing Jimmy. They took shots together. They talked about the "parranda" Benito brought to the studio—a high-energy Puerto Rican holiday tradition that involved a full band and a lot of tambourines crashing Jimmy’s monologue.
- Cultural Bridge: Benito refuses to speak English if he doesn't feel like it. He forces the mainstream to meet him where he is.
- The "Pals" Factor: Jimmy calls him "buddy" and "pal," and for once, it doesn't sound like typical talk-show fluff.
- Vulnerability: They’ve discussed everything from his Super Bowl performance with Shakira to the deep-seated homesickness that inspired his newest music.
What most people get wrong about their "Bromance"
Some critics think it’s just a calculated move by NBC to grab the Latino demographic. Sure, the numbers don't lie—The Tonight Show’s social media engagement spikes every time Benito's name is in the title. But look at the SNL50 Homecoming Concert. When Fallon hosted that massive milestone, Bad Bunny was one of the first names on the list to perform.
There's a genuine respect there for the "grind." Jimmy often brings up how Benito was the first Latino to headline Coachella, and Benito reminds Jimmy of the time he was just a kid in Puerto Rico watching these shows from afar.
During his most recent appearance, Benito explained the title of his album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (I should have taken more photos). It’s about the regret of not being present. It’s kinda ironic, right? A guy who is constantly filmed and photographed feeling like he missed the moment.
The "Estamos Bien" Legacy
We have to talk about the 2020 appearance again. This was right after the Super Bowl. Benito admitted to Jimmy that he didn't even know who won the football game. He didn't care about the score; he cared about the representation.
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He also used that 2020 slot to wear a shirt that said "MATARON A ALEXA, no un hombre con falda" (They killed Alexa, not a man in a skirt). This was a protest against the misgendering of a transgender woman murdered in Puerto Rico. By doing this on Fallon, he took a hyper-local issue and put it in front of millions of people who had no idea what was happening on the island.
How to see them together next
If you're trying to keep up with this duo, you have to look beyond just the televised interviews. Their best stuff usually ends up as digital exclusives.
- Check the YouTube "Extended" cuts: NBC usually leaves about 5-10 minutes of their conversation on the cutting room floor. This is where the real talk happens, away from the commercial break pressure.
- Watch the Subway Busking series: The 2025 subway performance is already being cited as one of the show's top-viewed segments of the decade.
- Monitor the SNL connections: With Benito becoming a staple in the Lorne Michaels universe, expect more "surprise" cameos during Jimmy’s bits.
Basically, Bad Bunny has become the "unofficial" mascot of the current era of The Tonight Show. He brings a level of unpredictability that late-night desperately needs. He might show up to talk about his 21-show residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, or he might just end up singing 90s boy band hits in a subway station. Either way, the "wax figure dream" is now a reality that redefined what a Latino superstar looks like on American TV.
To see the full impact of their partnership, go back and watch the "Voy a Llevarte Pa PR" performance where Benito raps while standing on top of a washing machine. It’s peak Benito. It’s peak Fallon. And it’s exactly why we’re still talking about them.
Next Steps for Fans:
To get the most out of the Bad Bunny and Jimmy Fallon archive, head to the official Tonight Show YouTube channel and search for the "Co-host" playlist from January 2025. This contains the full unedited "parranda" monologue and the guest-host swap segment that didn't fully air in all time zones.