It happened in an instant. One moment, the internet was buzzing about a comedy set at a political rally, and the next, the world’s biggest streaming artist basically broke the Latino political landscape. When Bad Bunny endorses Kamala, it isn't just a celebrity posting a selfie with a "Vote" sticker. It’s a seismic shift.
Honestly, if you follow Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—known to us as Bad Bunny—you know he’s usually pretty selective about jumping into U.S. presidential politics. He’s much more focused on the local struggles in Puerto Rico, like the failing power grid or the tax breaks pushing locals out of their homes. But something changed in late October 2024.
The catalyst? A comedian named Tony Hinchcliffe stood on a stage at Madison Square Garden during a Donald Trump rally and called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage."
Big mistake.
The Moment the Internet Exploded
Within hours of those comments going viral, Bad Bunny shared a video of Kamala Harris to his 45 million Instagram followers. He didn't just share a clip of her laughing or a generic campaign ad. He specifically picked a video where Harris was talking about her plans for Puerto Rico and, more importantly, her criticism of how Trump handled Hurricane Maria back in 2017.
You’ve gotta understand the context here. For Puerto Ricans, the memory of Trump tossing paper towels into a crowd after a devastating hurricane isn't just a meme. It’s a deep, painful wound. By resharing that specific footage, Benito wasn't just saying "I like Kamala." He was saying "I remember what happened to us."
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His rep confirmed the endorsement shortly after. It was a massive win for the Harris-Walz campaign, especially in places like Pennsylvania.
Why the "Garbage" Joke Backfired So Hard
People often underestimate how much influence "El Conejo Malo" actually has. He’s not just a singer; he’s a cultural icon who represents a specific kind of modern, unapologetic Latino identity. When a speaker at a major rally insults his home, it feels personal to millions of fans.
- The Reaction: Celebrities like Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony also jumped in.
- The Timing: This happened just days before the election.
- The Location: Pennsylvania has over 450,000 residents of Puerto Rican descent.
In a race decided by razor-thin margins, a few thousand votes in North Philly or Allentown can change everything. Basically, the "garbage" joke might go down as one of the biggest unforced errors in modern political history.
What People Get Wrong About Celebrity Endorsements
A lot of skeptics say, "Who cares who a singer votes for?"
But here’s the thing. In the Latino community, especially among younger voters, trust in traditional institutions is at an all-time low. They don't trust the news. They don't trust politicians. But they trust the guy whose music they listen to every single day while they're driving to work or hanging out with friends.
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When Bad Bunny endorses Kamala, it gives a "permission structure" to young men who might have been leaning toward Trump or considering staying home. It makes the Democratic ticket feel "cool" or at least "defendable" in a way that a standard TV ad never could.
The Complexity of the Latino Vote
Don't get it twisted, though. The Latino vote isn't a monolith. While Benito was boosting Harris, other artists like Anuel AA and Nicky Jam were actually appearing on stage with Trump. It's a complicated, messy tug-of-war.
The Harris campaign leaned hard into this endorsement. They knew that to win the "Blue Wall" states, they needed high turnout from the Puerto Rican community. They didn't just want a "like" on a post; they wanted people at the polls.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes?
There’s a lot of talk about whether this was a coordinated plan. Likely, it was a mix of both. The Harris campaign had been courting Bad Bunny for a long time. They even used his song "Pero Ya No" in an ad back in 2020. But the Madison Square Garden comments provided the perfect, organic moment for him to finally pull the trigger.
He didn't just post once. He shared the clip of Harris multiple times, ensuring it stayed at the top of his followers' feeds. He wanted to make sure nobody missed the message: They think we are garbage. She doesn't.
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The Long-Term Impact
We’re still dissecting how much this moved the needle. But one thing is clear—celebrity influence has moved past the "I'm with her" slogans of the past. It’s now about shared trauma, cultural pride, and rapid-response social media.
If you're trying to understand the future of American elections, you have to look at how pop culture and politics have become totally inseparable. The era of the "quiet artist" is over.
What You Can Do Now
If you’re following these political shifts and want to see how cultural endorsements actually change the map, here is what you should keep an eye on:
- Check the Voter Turnout Data: Look specifically at the "Puerto Rican corridor" in Pennsylvania (cities like Reading and Bethlehem). Did the numbers spike after the endorsement?
- Follow Local Puerto Rican Activists: Voices on the island, like those involved in the #RickyRenuncia movement, often provide the best context for why Bad Bunny moves the way he does.
- Watch the "Opportunity Economy" Policy: Harris promised a task force for Puerto Rico. Hold the administration accountable for those specific policy points mentioned in the endorsement video.
Politics is a game of inches. And sometimes, those inches are won on an Instagram Story.