What did Rosalía say about Bad Bunny? Singer clarifies comment about the Puerto Rican rapper only performing in Spanish following backlash

Spanish pop icon Rosalía has recently found herself at the center of an online controversy after her remarks about Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny drew widespread criticism and debate.

What started as a conversation about language, music, and cultural identity during her guest appearance on The New York Times Popcast on October 30, 2025, soon became a viral moment that many perceived as an insult to one of the most prominent names in Latin music.

The issue was raised following a self-proclaimed comment made by the rapper himself while appearing on The New York Times Popcast on January 10, 2025, in which he stated that he does not care whether his songs are understood in Spanish. The claim has sparked controversy in the United States ahead of his highly anticipated Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.

In the interview, Rosalalia was asked how Bad Bunny creatively decided to sing in Spanish, despite a significant portion of his global fan base not understanding the language.

Answering the question, Rosalalia said:

"I think I'm the opposite of Benito, I think I care. I care so much that definitely I’m going to make the effort to sing in a language that's not my language. It's not my comfort zone."

Rosalia's words about Bad Bunny immediately established the wave of backlash in the online community. Some fans interpreted her remarks as an implicit response to how the Puerto Rican artist maintains his commitment to his native language.

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Rosalía responds to fan criticism after backlash over Popcast interview

The Bad Bunny controversy intensified as clips from the Popcast interview circulated across social media, with many users interpreting Rosalía’s remarks as suggesting that Bad Bunny’s approach required less artistic “effort” or cultural awareness.

In the interview, Rosalalia had been publicizing her upcoming multilingual album, LUX. She announced that the album included songs in 13 languages, such as Spanish, Catalan, Arabic, Sicilian, Ukrainian, and Latin, a project she called an exploration of international communication through sound.

However, her remarks on Bad Bunny were taken by many as dismissive. In response to the backlash, Rosalía replied directly to a fan in the comments section of the video on TikTok on November 3, 2025. The comment, which has since been removed, was later reposted by the creator to share with their followers.

“Hey, I understand your point of view, but I think this is being taken out of context. I have nothing but love and respect for Benito," she said, "He’s a great colleague whom I admire and have been lucky enough to collaborate with”

She added:

“I’ve always been grateful to Latin America because, even though I come from another place, Latin people have supported me so much throughout my career… It makes me sad that this is being misunderstood, because that was never my intention.”

Rosalía clarified that her remark was not meant to criticize anyone but to express her personal creative way.

“When I said that I care, it’s about how I connect with people through language,” she noted

She pointed out how she admires people like Bad Bunny, who did not betray their cultural roots but managed to succeed in the global arena.

Ultimately, the viral quote by Rosalía was said not to be aimed at defaming another artist.

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Stay tuned for more updates.

Edited by Toshali Kritika