It should be a monument to his home: La Casita, Bad Bunny’s iconic stage set. But this has now become a point of contention.Image: www.imago-images.de
He breaks records, polarizes and changes reggaeton: Bad Bunny is considered by many to be the voice of a new generation. But of all things, his iconic stage project is now triggering a debate about the contradictions of his own image.
June 24, 2026, 6:05 p.mJune 24, 2026, 6:05 p.m
For years, reggaeton was a pretty reliable formula: big cars, big muscles, even bigger egos. Women often appeared in them as a projection surface for male fantasies – or simply as a pretty backdrop next to the tough guy.
But then came Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio. Better known as Bad Bunny.
In bright red high heels, a pink mini dress or in drag, the Puerto Rican broke the image of the tough, dominant reggaeton man. He doesn’t just stage the change visually: the musician publicly advocates for LGBTQ rights and draws attention to violence against women in his songs. He also doesn’t shy away from publicly criticizing established artists. For example, he once admonished genre veteran Don Omar with the words: “Homophobia in this time? How embarrassing, man.”
He took the culture war to the biggest stage in the world: At the Super Bowl halftime show, Bad Bunny sang entirely in Spanish, despite heavy criticism from the US right. In front of around 128 million viewers, he presented an America that goes far beyond the United States – characterized by diversity, migration and multiple cultural identities.
Contrast to Bad Bunny’s image
But the heart of his celebrated performance is now the artist’s undoing: “La Casita”.
The iconic stage design pays homage to the identity, culture and history of his native Puerto Rico. The colorful houses can be found in many areas of the island. They are part of people’s everyday lives and represent life in the neighborhoods. At the same time it is also a political statement.
At the same time, the setting also has a political meaning: Bad Bunny refers to the unequal rights that Puerto Rico is still confronted with as an external territory of the USA. Although the islanders have US citizenship, they are not allowed to vote for president and have no voting representation in the US Congress.
The pink house is currently traveling with Debí Tirar Más Photos on its world tour – and is sparking strong controversy.
Objectification and elitism
Because the veranda of the setting has developed into an exclusive VIP area. The chosen ones: footballers like Lamine Yamal or Robert Lewandowski, actress Ester Exposito or Marta Ortega, the daughter of the founder of the Inditex empire, which includes Zara, among others.
Bad Bunny has a close commercial partnership with the brand. The fashion chain recently launched the 150-piece collection Benito Antonio to the market. And between all the money and glamour: a striking number of young, attractive women who are apparently deliberately cast to dance in front of the camera.
Some criticize the fact that old clichés of the genre are being revived on the stage of Bad Bunny, the man who has fought machismo in reggaeton for years.
Bad Bunny bailándole a Ester Exposito en la casita en su primera función en Madrid. pic.twitter.com/BggKta98t1
— BAD BUNNY DAILY UPDATES (@keiveiec) May 30, 2026
The Spanish actress Ester Expósito at the Bad Bunny concert in Madrid.
For some, “La Casita” contradicts the progressive image that the Puerto Rican artist has built up over the years. Spanish feminists criticizethat the women on stage correspond to a strikingly uniform ideal of beauty and are defined above all by their appearance.
“La Casita” has become a political issue
Others complain that the social message of “La Casita” is being watered down. The backdrop is actually supposed to symbolize community, cultural identity and the cohesion of Puerto Rican neighborhoods. Gentrification is also a theme in his album: In Puerto Rico, luxury properties are increasingly pushing locals out of their neighborhoods. “If his album is about community, does it make sense to only staff La Casita with celebrities?” criticizes a Spanish music influencer.
The VIP area at the Bad Bunny concert in Madrid on June 15, 2026.Image: www.imago-images.de
The Spanish journalist and music critic Nando Cruz is particularly harsh on the artist: “Bad Bunny continues to break records, but now with his bad reputation. He came to Spain as a hero and will leave as a villain.”
In addition to the social debate, Bad Bunny also had legal problems because of the stage design. Because “La Casita” is a replica of the home of an 84-year-old Puerto Rican in Humacao. The owner had given permission to use the facade for a short film from his album – but not as a main stage set. He is said to have only received a small amount for this and therefore filed a lawsuit for millions. He accuses the production of not adequately regulating usage and violating his privacy.
Bad Bunny will be traveling through Europe with his “La Casita” until the end of July – the debate is likely to continue with him.