Verástegui Criticizes Bad Bunny Following GRAMMYs Speech on Immigration
A scathing critique from actor Eduardo Verástegui has ignited a debate following Bad Bunny’s acceptance speech at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards, where the Puerto Rican artist condemned the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The controversy underscores the increasing intersection of artistic expression and sociopolitical commentary on major award stages.
Bad Bunny’s GRAMMYs Statement
Bad Bunny, who secured the coveted ‘Album of the Year’ award, used his platform to address concerns regarding ICE’s practices. The specifics of his speech, beyond the condemnation of ICE, were not detailed in the available information. However, the statement immediately drew reaction, particularly from Verástegui.
Verástegui’s Response on Social Media
Verástegui, known for roles in telenovelas like ‘Soñadoras’ and ‘Salomé,’ responded to Bad Bunny’s speech with a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. He questioned both the artist’s musical merit and the appropriateness of his GRAMMYs win.
“The Bad Bunny won the GRAMMY of the year. What times were those when that award was received by Frank Sinatra, Adele or Stevie Wonder. Today it is enough to put on dresses, babble unintelligible lyrics, glorify vulgarity and sing with your mouth full of food so that they give it to you,” Verástegui wrote on February 2.
He further described Bad Bunny’s message as hypocritical, stating, “This character claims that we are not animals, but behaves like one. He says that ICE is ‘savage,’ while his music promotes the wildest instinct: without order, without beauty and without responsibility.”
A Broader Critique of Bad Bunny’s Work
Verástegui’s criticism extended beyond the GRAMMYs speech, encompassing the entirety of Bad Bunny’s artistic output. He argued that the artist’s work offers little value to society, particularly to children.
“This guy is of no use to society, much less to children. Do yourself a favor: turn off the TV, turn off the noise and let’s recover common sense, culture, morality, beauty and dignity,” he asserted.
He clarified that his issue wasn’t with individual taste, but with the quality of the music itself. “There is music that, subjectively, you may or may not like, and that’s fine. Taste is personal. But one thing is music and another very different thing is noise, sung with a mouth full of food and with lyrics that denigrate human beings. That’s no longer a matter of taste: it’s objectively garbage.”
Verástegui concluded by labeling Bad Bunny’s work as “toxic garbage,” arguing that it fails to educate or positively influence young people. This strong condemnation highlights a growing tension between artists who use their platforms for social commentary and those who believe artistic expression should remain separate from political statements.
