Bad Bunny addressed his detractors during his historic performance at Coachella

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Over the past year, Bad Bunny fans have learned to share their megastar, born Benito Antonio Martnez Ocasio, with the world. There’s no better example of that than her landmark performance at Coachella this year. The rapper and singer became the first Latinx artist to headline the world’s most revered music festival, making his performance a defining moment for Latin artists around the world, and especially a point of pride for his Porto home. Rico. In a sea of ​​crocheted sundresses and traditional festival cowboy boots, Puerto Rican jerseys, island memorabilia and even his own Adidas sneakers dotted the crowd, reminding those around them who they really came for.

The high-energy two-hour set was a rousing retrospective of Bad Bunny’s rise over the past six years. It flowed between Un Verano Sin Ti earworms like “Tit Me Pregunt” and previous fan favorites like “La Difcil” and “Safaera,” and brought out collaborators such as Jowell Y Randy and Jhay Cortez. Known for his fluid sense of style which can often include mesh tops and pleated skirts when he feels like it, he instead graced the stage in an oversized patchwork puffer jacket and matching pants with nothing underneath, opting to show off a new chest tattoo, six-pack abs, and a trio of blinding diamond chains; a uniform of men in music when they know they are on top of the world.

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There was an almost performance between the artist and Post Malone, unfortunately botched by faulty mic wiring (which affected other artists including Becky G and Kali Uchis earlier in the day). Between songs, Bad Bunny played clips that gave those less familiar with him in the crowd a history lesson on not only his rise, but also the music and legends that came before him, complete with vignettes on the style and sound of Puerto Rico and artists like Tego Calderon, Hector Lavoe, etc.

While Bad Bunny usually always pays homage to the sounds that shaped it, this time around was particularly poignant. For the first time in his undisputed rise to the top, fans have visibly aired some of their grievances with the star. Like many idols before him, he is said to be dating a certain model, leaving some fans less than thrilled. A recent TIME cover story featured comments on cultural control and colorism within reggaeton that the internet quickly dismissed as glib. It’s safe to say the singer saw the speech, as he covered it all halfway through his performance.

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In short, Bad Bunny insisted that the only reliable source in his life is anything that comes directly from him. He repeated that contrary to what has been recently written about him, he would never regret or reconsider the true meaning of one of his most politically tinged tracks like “El Apagn” (The Blackout), which barely a year has become a proud anthem for the resilience of Puerto Ricans. His educational interludes heavily showcased Afro-Latino talent, making it clear that he is well aware of the true creators of the genre who made it. He hinted that he would address the speech the day before the festival started, writing alongside a series of thirst traps on Instagram, “I have so much to tell you, but I better tell you tomorrow at Coachella..”

Frazer Harrison//Getty Images

Few stars can escape the internet’s wrath, and if anything, the fervent reaction to Bad Bunny’s every move lately further signifies the magnitude of this point in his career. His fans are tough on him because they love him almost painfully. While he has strived to remain humble, people have increasingly deified him, making every quote taken out of context, every supposed relationship, and every career move open to scrutiny. Her performance at Coachella, however, was a clear answer to all of that; it will take more than a conversation to count. And based on the visible response to her biggest performance yet, the screams, the tears, the unfiltered joy, we’re not done listening yet either.

Cultural Editor

Bianca Betancourt is the Culture Editor for HarpersBAZAAR.com, where she covers everything from film, TV, music and more. When she’s not writing, she loves to impulsively bake a batch of cookies, replay the same early 2000s pop playlist and follow Mariah Carey’s Twitter feed.

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