Puerto Rico is America, a point Trevor Noah playfully attempted to dispute with Bad Bunny during this year’s Grammy Awards, sparking a conversation about identity and belonging that resonated far beyond the stage. Early in the ceremony, Noah jokingly asked the Puerto Rican superstar if he could relocate there should conditions worsen in the United States.
Bad Bunny’s immediate response—that Puerto Rico is, in fact, part of the United States—prompted Noah to try and silence him. The exchange, though lighthearted, foreshadowed a night where Bad Bunny’s very presence and success became a statement about the evolving definition of “American.” Just one week before his highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance, the 31-year-old Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio took home three Grammy Awards, including the coveted Album of the Year.
The artist, alongside other stars, used the platform to advocate for immigrants and speak out against ICE. But it was Bad Bunny’s wins and his words that uniquely captured the moment, as he has become a focal point in debates surrounding cultural identity and representation. He’s not shying away from the political implications of his success, and that’s precisely why it matters.
His first win of the evening was for Best Música Urbana Album—a category created in 2022 to recognize the growing influence of Spanish-language popular music, a genre Bad Bunny dominates. The award was presented by Marcello Hernández, a Cuban-Dominican-American actor from Saturday Night Live, and Karol G, a Colombian pop star, who reminisced about the Spanish-language music they grew up with. Hernández noted that the nominees in this category are the artists he hopes to play for his own children one day.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say, ‘ICE out,’” Bad Bunny declared upon accepting the award. “We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.” These words directly echoed rhetoric used by Donald Trump and his supporters to describe immigrants in the past year. Bad Bunny delivered his message with quiet intensity, concluding with a plea for love over hatred.
The phrase “ICE Out” was prominently displayed on pins worn by numerous artists throughout the Grammys. Olivia Dean, the 26-year-old British singer who won Best New Artist, shared that she is the granddaughter of an immigrant, adding, “I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.” Billie Eilish, accepting the award for Song of the Year, stated, “No one is illegal on stolen land”—a common refrain at anti-ICE demonstrations.
Bad Bunny’s win for Album of the Year wasn’t entirely unexpected. His 2025 album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, has been both a commercial and critical triumph, solidifying his position as the most streamed artist globally for the fourth consecutive year. This year also marked the first time that all voting members of the Latin Grammys were eligible to vote in the main Grammys. Despite this recognition, Bad Bunny appeared humbled by the victory, covering his face with his hand when his name was announced by Harry Styles.
Throughout the evening, he sported a sleek tuxedo featuring corset-like stitching. As the room erupted in applause, Bad Bunny remained silent, visibly moved. His acceptance speech was primarily in Spanish—a natural choice, given that he exclusively performs in his native language—but it also underscored the historical significance of his win: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is the first Album of the Year sung entirely in Spanish. “I want to dedicate this award to all the people that had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” he said in English. He then dedicated the award to all Latinos and the artists who paved the way.
The selection of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime show has drawn criticism from some conservative voices, who have labeled him as un-American, divisive, and aligned with a left-leaning agenda. His Grammy wins are likely to be seen as further provocation by these groups. However, the ceremony served as a powerful reminder that Spanish speakers and immigrants are integral to American life, culture, and music. To deny this reality is to dismiss the success story of Bad Bunny, who embodies the American dream in its most modern form.
