Earlier this year, Bad Bunny announced the dates and cities for his latest tour, and none of those cities were in America. Bad Bunny – Benito – said back in June that touring in the US is “unnecessary” for him, suggesting perhaps that he was no longer interested in the American market for his music. Everyone knew that there was more to it, obviously. But we waited for Benito to say it explicitly – he has no desire to tour in the US during Donald Trump’s authoritarian rule, with Trump’s ICE agents acting as a 21st century Gestapo.
Bad Bunny has elaborated on why he didn’t include the United States in his 2025-26 tour dates, explaining that part of the reason was out of concern over ICE raids. The musician opened up to I-D about his decision to leave the U.S. off the itinerary of his upcoming Debi Tirar Mas Fotos World Tour, explaining that he did so for fear that ICE “could be outside [my concert].”
“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the US, and none of them were out of hate—I’ve performed there many times,” he said. “All of [the shows] have been successful. All of them have been magnificent. I’ve enjoyed connecting with Latinos who have been living in the US. But specifically, for a residency here in Puerto Rico, when we are an unincorporated territory of the US… People from the US could come here to see the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans of the United States could also travel here, or to any part of the world. But there was the issue of—like, f–king ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
Bad Bunny previously sparked conversation about skirting the U.S. during his Variety cover story in June, stating that performances in the country were “unnecessary.” He explained that fans in the U.S. have had no shortage of opportunities to see him perform over the past six years.
Benito is a real one. Sure, he’s making a political statement, but he’s also just showing a completely justified concern for his fans. He would feel so guilty and upset if ICE started showing up at his shows and abducting his fans. He has every reason to be concerned about that. And it takes a lot of guts for Bad Bunny to say all of this openly.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
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- New York, NY – Bad Bunny is seen leaving Madison Square Garden in New York City, drawing attention after a stylish night out. Pictured: Bad Bunny BACKGRID USA 12 MAY 2025 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY Bad Bunny attends Columbia Pictures’ “Caught Stealing” New York Premiere at Regal Union Square in New York City. Pictured: Bad Bunny BACKGRID USA 26 AUGUST 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: Nancy Rivera / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
This is exactly the right choice. It’s dangerous for him and his fans.
Hard agree. This is a good call, as sad as it must be for fans.
I’m wondering how many other performers might realize they need to do the same – for instance, given the horrors of what happened at the Hyundai/LG plant in GA, might Kpop bands start rethinking US tour dates for the safety of their fans?
As a fan, I’m both devastated at these decisions but also grateful for thoughtful actions and sacrifices of Bad Bunny and any other performers who take this stand.
There are already reports of people calling ICE on TXT members.
What happened at the Hyundai plant was so asinine! I mean, it’s all awful & hateful & just one of the many boneheaded ideas our current regime has had. Bad Bunny made the right call.
I went from being ambivalent to really respecting this guy. Not only does he do it but he says with his whole chest why.
What a commendable move on his part!! Much respect for him.
So much this. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but that’s irrelevant right now. U.S. citizens who don’t have white complexions are being targeted, and I would bet most ICE agents don’t even realize that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and either way we’re seeing people of Latin American heritage being arrested and disappeared regardless of U.S. citizenship and often birthright. Why risk it?
Smart move and likely spot on!
My man. WORD.
Good for him!
Absolutely agree. I don’t go to any country where I know Americans aren’t safe. And sadly, the US is becoming that for others. We just lost 8,000 jobs and the locals are still fighting about it. Seriously?
We live under an administration that has opened concentration camps.
They can call them detainment centers all they want.
But when masked white supremacists can grab any brown person off the street, keep them imprisoned with no medical care, no due process, no charges, no right to legal counsel.
It is the gestapo, and we are the nazis in the new holocaust.
No one should come here.
Oh and, the nazis didn’t announce they were mass murdering people.
And Anne Frank didn’t die in a gas chamber, she died of typhus, as disease in concentration camps were rampant. And there was no medical care.
Evil and corruption rule our country.
As a person of Black and Puerto Rican descent, I approve of this and don’t blame him! We know that some MAGA racists would call!
The right choice.
Very smart move. Prescience. ICE would be arresting everyone.