Key Takeaways
- Bad Bunny used his acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards to address U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and advocate for the Latino community.
- The singer emphasized the importance of love and unity, stating that "we’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans."
- Bad Bunny has been vocal about his opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies and has taken steps to avoid performing in the US due to ICE crackdowns.
- The singer has used his platform to speak out against hate and promote love and acceptance, and has been recognized for his powerful speeches and music videos.
Introduction to Bad Bunny’s Grammy Awards Speech
Bad Bunny gave a powerful speech about the Latino community at the Grammy Awards, using his first acceptance speech of the night to address U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during his win for best música urbana album. The reggaeton superstar’s remarks came amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, which has drawn intense public scrutiny in recent months. Bad Bunny’s speech was met with a standing ovation from the star-studded crowd, and his words emphasized the importance of love and unity.
Bad Bunny’s Message of Love and Unity
In his speech, Bad Bunny stated that "we’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans." He also emphasized that "the only thing that is more powerful than hate is love," and urged the audience to "please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them; we love our people. We love our family, and that’s the way to do it — with love." Bad Bunny’s message of love and unity was a powerful call to action, and his words were met with applause and admiration from the audience.
Bad Bunny’s History of Speaking Out Against ICE
Bad Bunny’s Grammy Awards speech was not the first time the singer has spoken out on immigration and the Trump administration. In a September interview with I-D magazine, the singer stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns were part of the reason he opted not to bring his tour to the US. Bad Bunny also made a pointed statement about Trump’s anti-immigration policies in the music video for his song "NuevaYol," which he released on the Fourth of July. In the video, a voice that sounds like Trump’s plays from a radio and apologizes to immigrants in America, stating that the country is nothing without them.
Bad Bunny’s Support for Kamala Harris
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Bad Bunny backed Trump’s Democratic rival, former Vice President Kamala Harris. The move came after a comedian performing at one of Trump’s closing campaign rallies derided Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage." Bad Bunny shared a video of Harris criticizing Trump’s actions against Puerto Rico when he was president, stating that he abandoned the island and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults. Bad Bunny’s support for Harris was a significant endorsement, and his platform helped to raise awareness about the issues facing Puerto Rico and the Latino community.
Bad Bunny’s Decision Not to Perform at the Grammy Awards
Although Bad Bunny was one of the top-nominated acts at the Grammys, he did not perform at the ceremony. Host Trevor Noah made several jokes about the singer, who is scheduled to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, not performing at the Grammys. Bad Bunny explained that he was unable to perform due to his upcoming Super Bowl appearance, but Noah was able to goad him into singing a line from his nominated song "DTMF" by playfully reciting the song’s lyrics in English and then singing the track in Spanish. The impromptu performance was a highlight of the evening, and Bad Bunny’s music and message continued to resonate with the audience.
