Why does Bad Bunny wear a dress? Explaining history of drag outfits and LGBTQ support

Bad Bunny certainly has a style all his own.

The Puerto Rican artist -- real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio -- is one of music's biggest stars, known for his dulcet voice and command of distinct dialect of Caribbean Spanish, "full of so many skipped consonants, Spanglish, neologisms and argot that it borders on Creole", Dr. Yarimar Bonilla wrote in a 2023 New York Times op-ed. He may be revered for his Latin trap tunes. But Bad Bunny is a versatile figure in the music industry, having melded salsa, merengue and reggaeton influences into something fresh and compelling.

Streaming numbers indicate that the masses appreciate his ingenuity. Bad Bunny led all artists in Spotify streams in 2025 and figures to rank highly on the list in 2026 -- especially after he takes to the stage during Super Bowl 60.

While Bad Bunny's music is undoubtedly his biggest creative outlet, it's not his only one. He's known for his fashion sense, too, often sporting flashy pieces from noted designers. Among his favorite items in his selection are skirts and dresses, of which he has many.

So, just why does Bad Bunny choose to drape himself in floral frocks? Here's what you need to know.

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Why does Bad Bunny wear a dress?

Bad Bunny has long been an admirer of women's fashion. He explained as much while speaking with Harper's Bazaar in 2022.

“I always remember seeing the pieces in women’s clothing, and they would always fit me so much better, and they had so much different variety,” Bad Bunny said. “Obviously, as you get older, you start seeing what the world shows you, and if I lived my life that way, then I wouldn’t be able to dress in the way that I really want to. To a point, the fame and where I am gives me the confidence to do all of these things.”

The Bayamón-born musician is more than willing to experiment with his fashion sense, often decking himself out in femme aesthetics. Some have called him a heretic, while others express admiration over his willingness to pursue a look beyond the gender binary.

“There's people that appreciate what I do; there's people that criticize it,” Bad Bunny told GQ in a 2019 profile. “There's people who say, ‘Thank you for sticking up [for us], thank you for defending [this].’ There's others that say I'm an opportunist."

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Bad Bunny doesn't view himself as an activist, but rather a member of Puerto Rico's citizenry that, up until very recently, felt acutely the impact of the island's political, social and economic fissures.

“Three years ago, I was a citizen like anyone else, and I felt the country's problems just like anyone else,” Bad Bunny said. "I see the problems up close, and they affect me just the same, because these are people I love.”

“I think it's my responsibility, as a person of influence -- not just as an artist but as a person -- to sometimes try to do what I can. If I have the chance to say something, I will say it."

Is Bad Bunny gay?

Bad Bunny is not gay. All of his known romantic partners are cisgender women.

Despite this, Bad Bunny has, perhaps erroneously, been labeled a "queer icon" by some, including Ricky Martin, the famed Puerto Rican singer who came out as gay in 2010.

In a 2020 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Bad Bunny acknowledged that he views his sexuality as fluid.

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“It does not define me,” he said. “At the end of the day, I don’t know if in 20 years I will like a man. One never knows in life.”

“But at the moment I am heterosexual and I like women.”

Bad Bunny kissed a male backup dancer during his performance at the 2022 VMAs, setting of a firestorm on the internet -- and a cesspool of homophobic comments to wade through.

“I get an endless number of negative comments and sexist and homophobic ones, without being homosexual, for dressing like that,” Bad Bunny told Vanity Fair in 2023. “Maybe the queer person suffers more, but it is not like I put on a skirt and go out and they say, ‘Look how cool.’ They’re going to attack me either way.”

Bad Bunny LGBTQ advocacy

Bad Bunny has been open in his support for LGBTQ+ causes throughout his career. His music videos regularly feature same-sex couples and transgender women. During a 2020 appearance on "The Jimmy Fallon Show", he wore a shirt paying tribute to Alexa Negrón Luciano, a homeless transgender woman who was murdered in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico earlier that week.

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The shirt read “Mataron a Alexa, no a un hombre con falda,” which translates to "They killed Alexa, not a man in a skirt.”

Bad Bunny also blasted reggaeton artist Don Omar for expressing homophobic remarks on social media and supported Puerto Ricans' protests against former governor Ricardo Rosselló, whose misogynist, sexist and homophobic comments -- coupled with evidence of corruption and mismanagement of funds for Puerto Ricans affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria -- made him a reviled figure among the Puerto Rican masses.

In 2023, Glaad awarded Bad Bunny the Vanguard Award, presented to a member of the entertainment community who made a “significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues.”

“I believe that when you have a good heart and you give love, that’s what you receive back," Bad Bunny said in his acceptance speech. "That’s what I’ve wanted to do all this time with my music."

“When you act in good faith and with your heart, that’s what happens: you’re brought to beautiful places, in front of beautiful people, and I’m grateful for where I am. I’m grateful for the people that love me today.”

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Bad Bunny wearing dresses

Bad Bunny has worn dresses on a number of occasions. Here are some of his more memorable looks.

"Yo Perreo Sola"

Bad Bunny famously dressed in drag for the visual to his 2020 hit, "Yo Perreo Sola." The video was a smash hit, collecting nearly 650 million views as of Feb. 4.

"The Jimmy Fallon Show"

As previously mentioned, Bad Bunny sported a shirt playing tribute to Alexa Negrón Luciano, a homeless transgender woman murdered in Puerto Rico in 2020. During his performance, he also donned a billowy black skirt.

Harper's Bazaar

In 2022, Bad Bunny was featured on the cover of Harper's Bazaar. He was outfitted in a pastel and multi-layered dress -- right in line with his signature style.

“The way that he has transitioned into fashion, the way that he dressed in drag in his music video even though Hispanic culture can be a little homophobic—he took that chance, and instead of hurting his career, it made him bigger," Cardi B said of Bad Bunny's fashion sense.