Ricky Martin Pens Emotional Tribute To Bad Bunny For Defending Immigrant Community At Grammys

Ricky Martin had a lot of heartwarming things to say about Bad Bunny's Grammy win. 

Following the history-making win, Martin sent an emotional message to his fellow Latino artists, expressing his pride in standing up for immigrants. 

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny is set to make his Super Bowl debut, as he is gearing up to hit the stage for the famed Halftime show. Although he was heavily criticized by fans who believe he might make the event political, the NFL has remained firmly behind him.

In an open letter published in Puerto Rican Newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, Martin wrote,

“Benito, brother, seeing you win three Grammy Awards, one of them for album of the year with a production entirely in Spanish, touched me deeply. Not only as an artist, but as a Puerto Rican who has walked stages around the world carrying his language, his accent, and his story.” 

The 54-year-old singer drew from his own struggles, saying he understands what it means to succeed without “letting go of where you come from” and is aware of how “heavy” the burden might be for a fellow Puerto Rican singer. 

He tagged Bad Bunny’s accomplishment as “historic,” adding that it's a “cultural and human victory.” 

“You won without changing the color of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico,” Martin wrote. 

He admitted that watching the “I like it” singer receive the award made him overcome with emotion because it was a victory that resonated throughout their community. He then applauded him for defending immigrants when he "pointed out a system that persecutes and separates.” 

As confirmed by Entertainment Weekly, Martin concluded his speech by noting that Bad Bunny’s accomplishment is for an entire “generation.” He then thanked him for being a reminder that when one person in the Puerto Rican community wins, everyone wins.

Ricky Martin wasn’t the only high-profile figure who was moved by Bad Bunny’s Grammy win. The iconic Lady Gaga was seen standing and cheering him on with tears in her eyes as he won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. 

In his acceptance speech, Bad Bunny boldly highlighted the ongoing tension between ICE and immigrants in the country, saying, “ICE out!” He also called for everyone listening to approach the matter with love, and not hate, emphasizing that immigrants are not “savage,” but “humans.”

Following the emotional night, Lady Gaga addressed the emotional moment, calling Bad Bunny a "brilliant musician" who is kind.

"I thought what he said was incredibly important right now and so inspiring. What's happening in this country is incredibly heartbreaking, and we're so lucky to have leaders like him who are speaking up for what is true and what is right,” she said, per The Blast.

While Bad Bunny’s moving speech touched the likes of Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga, MAGA fans online felt differently. Many took to social media to call for a boycott of the Super Bowl ahead of his performance.

According to The Blast, one fan claimed that the rapper would make the Super Bowl “extremely political.” Meanwhile, another suggested that the 31-year-old singer’s Grammy win was rigged to justify his Super Bowl performance. 

Despite calls for a Super Bowl boycott, the NFL did not reconsider its decision to have the Latino rapper serve as the event's entertainment.

Instead, during a press conference, a representative for the organization expressed confidence in the rapper’s ability to deliver premium entertainment regardless of the backlash. 

The Blast reported that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gave his candid opinion on the matter, calling the rapper “one of the greatest artists in the world.”

He also noted that Bad Bunny “understands” the kind of platform the Super Bowl stage offers, and he believes he will put on a “great” show. 

During the press conference ahead of the Super Bowl, the NFL also addressed another concern that has circulated amidst the unrest in the country.

While anti-ICE protests are still going on nationwide, fans speculated that ICE agents may be present at the Super Bowl. 

However, NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier revealed that participants can attend the event without fear of being harassed by ICE agents. 

“There is [no] ICE deployed with us at this Super Bowl, and I don't believe there has been in the last several, but most of the other departments from the Coast Guard to ... many other agencies are here," Lanier said, according to The Blast.