Bad Bunny threw his support behind the vice president Kamala Harris Sunday by sharing a video of the Democratic presidential candidate shortly after a comedian at Donald Trump rally at Madison Square Garden made crude jokes about Latinos and called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” angering artists and some Hispanic Republicans.

Bad Bunny, whose official name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is one of the most famous artists of the moment. His support could provide a boost to Harris’ campaign, which is trying to shore up support among Latino voters, among whom Trump is working to gain ground.

The video that Bad Bunny shared with his 45 million Instagram followers shows Harris saying that “there is so much at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico.” A rep for the artist confirmed that Bad Bunny supported Harris.

Bad Bunny showed his support moments after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made the remarks about Puerto Rico. Later, Hinchcliffe said “these Latinos love making babies” and said they don’t use the withdrawal method of birth control.

The comments about Puerto Rico were immediately criticized by Harris’ campaign, but were also denounced by Angel Cintron, the leader of the Republican Party on the island, and by Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, who represents parts of Miami and participated in the recent elections. Trump Events.

Salazar wrote: “Disgusted by @TonyHinchcliffe’s racist comment calling Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage.’ This rhetoric does not reflect the values ​​of the GOP. Puerto Rico sent more than 48,000 troops to Vietnam, and more than 345 Purple Hearts were awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Find out! »

Trump campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement that “this joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”

Luis Fonsi, a Puerto Rican artist who sings the hit “Despacito,” took to Instagram and wrote “going down this racist path right.”

“We do not agree with this constant hatred,” he wrote in a message shared on Instagram. “It’s obvious these people have no respect for us.”

Ricky Martin, who previously supported Harris, was also offended by the comment and said “that’s what they think of us” on Instagram.

Showing his support, Bad Bunny repeatedly shared another part of the Harris-directed music video about Puerto Rico, saying, “I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he didn’t do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and competent leader.”

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton artist, who has popular songs such as “Dakiti” and “Titi Me Preguntó,” has won three Grammy Awards. He was the most streamed artist on Spotify in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and was only surpassed by Taylor Swift in 2023. He was named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year in 2022.

The Puerto Rican vote is significant in Pennsylvania, which is arguably the hardest-fought swing state in the 2024 elections. Other Puerto Rican singers like Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had previously expressed support for Harris. Trump has also attracted support from other popular stars on the island such as Anuel AA and Nicky Jam.

Bad Bunny criticized Puerto Rico’s power system, which was flattened by Hurricane Maria. In a 2022 music video for his song “El Apagon,” the artist called out the company Luma Energy, which manages transportation and distribution, for the constant power outages plaguing the island.

One of his most recent songs, “Una Velita”, is also a protest against the government’s response following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017.

A year after the storm, public health experts estimated that nearly 3,000 people had died from the effects of Hurricane Maria. But Trump, whose efforts to help the island territory recover have been constantly criticized, has repeatedly questioned that figure, saying it has increased “like magic.”

His visit to the island after the hurricane sparked controversy, including when he threw away paper towels. His administration released $13 billion in aid years later, just weeks before the 2020 presidential election. And a federal government watchdog found that officials obstructed an investigation into delays in providing help.

Bad Bunny also shared part of the clip showing Harris saying Trump “abandoned the island, tried to block aid after back-to-back devastating hurricanes, and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults” .

Harris visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in North Philadelphia on Sunday and released her policy on the island, saying she wanted to create a task force to attract investment needed to repair the power grid. And Trump will visit Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, where more than half of its population is Hispanic and a majority is Puerto Rican.

In 2020, Bad Bunny allowed the Biden campaign to use one of his hits “Pero Ya No” in a television commercial.

Adriana Gomez Licon, Associated Press