Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny shared Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign message supporting Puerto Rico on social media, following an offensive joke about the island made at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally. The joke, made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, compared Puerto Rico to "a floating island of garbage," sparking backlash for its racist undertones. The move from Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, signals alignment with Harris’s stance on Puerto Rico, though his team clarified it was not an official endorsement.
Harris’s campaign has been working to secure high-profile endorsements among Latino celebrities, seeing their influence as a way to engage Latino and Puerto Rican voters, particularly in swing states like Pennsylvania. Harris's message highlighted Trump's mishandling of Hurricane Maria relief efforts, contrasting it with her support for Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny’s engagement on Instagram—where he has over 45 million followers—signals his support for Puerto Rico-focused issues, which is central to his activism.
Other Puerto Rican celebrities, including Luis Fonsi, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin, joined in voicing support for Harris and condemning the joke. Fonsi, for example, shared his frustration on Instagram, pointing to the joke as an example of racism. Harris’s campaign sees this growing support from Latino celebrities as an opportunity to reach younger voters, especially younger Latino men, who polls show have shown increasing interest in Trump’s campaign.
