Benito Martinez is just as popular in current Latinx music as he is controversial. Better known by his stage name Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican seems to appeal to younger audiences, but is discarded by older viewers for his explicitness and “wild attitude.” Mainly, these older viewers include my parents and all of their friends and peers. A pity, considering my absolute love and passion for everything Bad Bunny. Now, if you ask my mother, she’ll say something like, “I just don’t understand how you can be such a smart girl, interested in intellectual debate, but also love that guy.”
But the answer is simple. Although Bad Bunny might initially come off as just some horny dude singing about money, fame, and relationships, his lyrics and style offer so much more when you take a closer look.
He is a total fashion icon (at least to me) and oftentimes tackles important social issues through his clothing. Here, we’ll break down three of his best looks:
- “Caro” – Music Video Outfit
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This outfit is just stunning. Between the loud pop colors, the cool prints and graphics, and those translucent lime green glasses, I simply don’t know where to look first.
This was one of Bad Bunny’s first moments challenging gender stereotypes and beauty standards.
Upon closer inspection of the video for “Caro” (“Expensive” in Spanish), we see Bad Bunny getting his nails painted as an introduction to his fashion sense. As the video progresses, he’s suddenly switched out with an actress who remains in the video, constantly cutting back and forth between Bad Bunny and this alter ego of his. At a slow part in the song, they are seen in an intimate space together. This symbolizes Bad Bunny’s embrace of his feminine side and a back-and-forth struggle of showing himself as he really is.
Since the song also covers the theme of Benito’s own struggles with conforming to what everyone wants him to be, when all he wants is to express himself, it becomes evident that his main form of expression is dressing up. And, like a true king, he refuses to be limited to what is heteronormative.
- “Mataron a Alexa” – Jimmy Fallon outfit
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Bad Bunny revealed this outfit during a live performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Earlier that same week, a transgender woman named Neulisa Luciano Ruiz (also known as Alexa) was murdered in Puerto Rico.
The media’s immediate initial response largely misgendered the victim of this tragic event, referring to them as “a man in a skirt” rather than their personal gender identity.
Mid-performance, Bad Bunny opened up his trench coat to reveal a shirt that translates as: “They Killed Alexa. Not a Man in a skirt.”
He paired this with a black skirt, as well as a black rose pinned to his coat pocket as a commemoration to Alexa.
In taking the time to speak up about the event, Bad Bunny demonstrated a clear alliance with the LGBTQ+ community and showed no shame in speaking up against transphobia and misogyny.
Although the song being performed doesn’t have complete relevance to the matter, the title “Ignorantes” translates to “Ignorant,” further highlighting how it was in fact societal ignorance regarding the transgender community that lead to Alexa’s death.
- “Yo Perreo Sola” – Music Video Outfit
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When this video came out, EVERYONE was talking about it.
Bad Bunny has made his stance on sexuality clear, considering it to be fluid. Although many have accused Benito of “queerbaiting” (using the possibility of being queer to appeal to larger audiences), it’s made clear with his constant activism against Womxn and LGBTQ+ injustices that his intentions are pure.
Bad Bunny is simply using his platform and status to his advantage to spread awareness and advocate for these minorities.
In this video, we see Benito dressed in drag in several different outfits and color schemes, all of which he wears loud and proud. Not only that, but he’s accompanied by phrases in the background of his dancing and twerking, such as “Ni Una Menos,” a popular phrase in reference to the Latin American #MeToo movement, and “Las Mujeres Mandan” (Women Rule). The song essentially reinforces the message that women dance for themselves, not for men, and they deserve respect.
This video and outfit broke all sorts of barriers, considering how controversial its content is for a widely conservative Latinx community.
It’s definitely admirable to see such a talented, rising artist constantly drawing attention to matters pertinent to our society, such as prejudice and oppression towards gender and sexuality minorities. Bad Bunny truly takes the time to communicate this fight for equality in every form of expression, as seen in his fashion choices. The way in which he’s unafraid to go the distance to voice his opinion on these topics that he’s passionate about is what makes me such a fan. These are the reasons why I will continue to defend his artistry no matter what “the adults” may say.