Love Over Hate: Top Moments Bad Bunny’s Art Became Activism and Powered the Whistleblower Spirit

Posted February 17, 2026

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team

From his international reach in music, political outspokenness, and record-breaking streaming numbers to his sonically-electrifying beats and undeniable impact, Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) has solidified his status as a cultural catalyst, activist and truly iconic artist of his generation.

He blends styles including reggaeton and Latin trap music and has been amassing landmark achievements while speaking volumes and sharing messages beyond the music. Just this year alone, his album Debí tirar más fotos made history by snagging a Grammy Award for album of the year, the first Spanish-language win in this category. And that was just one of six awards he won that night.

Benito isn’t a whistleblower in the conventional sense, such as reporting wrongful conduct or fraud potentially covered by whistleblower reward laws. However, he harnesses the whistleblower spirit by taking a stand as a cultural and political trailblazer in his willingness to speak up against wrongdoing and call attention to critical issues including injustices and corruption.

Bad Bunny joins the ranks of whistleblower artists we have highlighted including Taylor Swift, Green Day, John Lennon, and Bob Dylan– just to name a few.

In no particular order, and since we thoroughly enjoy applauding artists who exemplify the whistleblower spirit, we rounded up several public moments that Bad Bunny used his platform to spotlight social issues and explore resistance. He is a cultural figure willing to challenge prevailing narratives and advocate for change, so he most certainly fits our definition of what it means to be a whistleblower.

Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Performance

Bad Bunny delivered a powerhouse performance chock-full of visual storytelling at the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. This poignant and culturally significant set was the first time a solo Latino artist headlined the halftime show and featured a performance nearly all in Spanish, centering Puerto Rican heritage and Latin American identity on stage. He also brought in special guests like Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin during the high-octane set.

The set incorporated Benito’s energetic music with imagery including the sugarcane fields, neighborhood scenes with businesses, dancing, a wedding, a symbolic “casita” filled with cultural icons, electrical workers who performed on electrical power line poles, and so much more. This performance celebrated resilience, community, joy, and love. He closed the performance with messages of love and unity, reinforcing: “Together we are America” and “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

Bad Bunny’s Grammy Award Acceptance Speech

At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Bad Bunny used his speech to call out U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE), declaring “…ICE out… We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we are humans and we are Americans.” He condemned dehumanizing language and treatment of immigrants, which earned a standing ovation and turned a music awards ceremony feature into a moment of protest against cruelty and misdirected immigration enforcement practices.[1]

ICE Raids Affecting Fans

Bad Bunny has previously expressed concerns about ICE raids affecting his fans and altered his tour plans due to fear of immigration enforcement at U.S. shows.[2] He decided to complete a slew of dates as a concert residency in Puerto Rico in part for his love of the island and to boost community and economy.

Bad Bunny’s Music, Lyrics, and Visuals

Aside from the Super Bowl, there are many examples of how Bad Bunny’s music, lyrics, and visuals show a willingness to tackle and meditate on complex problems through his art. One of his most common themes is speaking out on Puerto Rico’s political and economic challenges, using his visibility to highlight inequality, historical neglect, and the island’s colonial status. Here are three prominent examples:

- His song and brief documentary, “El Apagón,” criticizes economic exploitation and collapse of public services in Puerto Rico, opening conversation about the island’s struggles and colonial legacy.[3] He calls out the island’s blackouts and the former Governor Pipo Pedro Pierluisi.
- Lyrics in songs such as “LA MuDANZA” underscore Puerto Rico’s continuous struggles with displacement and references Law 53 of 1948, known as the Gag Law. The track “Afilando los Cuchillos,” performed with Residente and iLe, is a protest song that asks the former Governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign from his position.
- In 2024, Bad Bunny released “Una Velita,” a song reflecting on Hurricane Maria’s effects on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean in 2017 and points out the dire conditions and death toll caused by the storm.

Support For Movements Like Black Lives Matter

Benito has made statements showing support for movements like Black Lives Matter and speaking up against racial injustice, tying his voice to broader calls for equality.[4] In 2020’s “COMPOSITOR DEL AÑO,” and during the album’s promotion cycle, he asserted support for the BLM movement among other topics.

These are just some examples of how Bad Bunny exudes the whistleblower spirit, and we will likely update this post as more instances unfold.

Our Firm Helps Whistleblowers

You don’t have to be a music superstar to be a whistleblower. It’s open to anyone who has information on fraud or misconduct that causes financial harm to the government or adversely impacts public health or safety. Ready to blow the whistle? Contact us and we will connect you with an experienced member of the Constantine Cannon whistleblower team for a free and confidential consultation.