AOC Compares Bad Bunny to Civil Rights Icons — Here’s Why
When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is fighting for policy change or confronting power on Capitol Hill, there’s a certain soundtrack keeping her grounded—and it includes a whole lot of Bad Bunny.
AOC on Bad Bunny: “It’s Very Political”
In a new Rolling Stone interview published May 30, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hold back her admiration for the Puerto Rican superstar’s newest album, Debi Tirar Más Fotos. “I have had the Bad Bunny album on repeat,” she told Rolling Stone. “As a Puerto Rican, the album is very cathartic, and it’s very political. It speaks to a lot of what’s happening to us and our people right now.”
Her praise came during a wide-ranging conversation about Donald Trump, the 2024 election, and what she listens to when she needs fuel. The 2025 release from Bad Bunny—already a four-week Billboard 200 chart-topper—is doing more than dominating charts. It’s serving as what AOC described as a mirror for Puerto Ricans navigating identity, injustice, and diaspora.
AOC and the Return of Salsa
There was also room for joy in AOC’s musical shoutouts. She specifically praised Bunny and Rauw Alejandro for something that feels especially nostalgic for Latinos: bringing salsa back. “Rauw Alejandro is doing that, too,” she added. “I’m a big salsa person. It’s such a nice outlet. I like it because the lyricism is so dramatic. Everyone’s breaking up, everyone’s got the love of their life. It’s so funny.”
The blend of politics and personal passion in AOC’s words underlines what Bad Bunny’s music often delivers: emotion with intention.
Why AOC Thinks Benito’s Political Voice Matters
When asked what it means to see someone like Bad Bunny take such a clear political stance, especially as he skips a U.S. tour stop, AOC made an observation that cuts deep. “We just don’t have figures like that anymore,” she said.
She compared Bunny’s outspokenness to that of artists like Harry Belafonte during the Civil Rights Movement. “I think about people like Harry Belafonte and all of these artists who really did risk everything, risk their careers and their popularity in order to support and take part in people’s movements,” she told Rolling Stone. “It’s more rare now, or at least it feels that way.”
She also pointed to how the music industry encourages artists to stay as broadly palatable as possible, making Bad Bunny’s political risks feel even bolder. “When you have someone who does something gutsy like that, first of all, people come through for it, and it’s super compelling,” she said.
AOC on Bad Bunny, Puerto Rico, and the 2024 Election
Beyond his lyrics, Bad Bunny has also used his influence to move voters. In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, he backed Kamala Harris, helping amplify her campaign messages about Puerto Rico. According to Rolling Stone, he was among a group of Latin superstars—alongside Luis Fonsi, Marc Anthony, and Ricky Martin—who spoke out against Trump’s policies and endorsed Harris.
AOC herself has called out other reggaetón stars who went the other direction. During a September 2024 congressional hearing, she clapped back at far-right Center for Immigration Studies director Mark Krikorian by referencing pro-Trump reggaetoneros: “I suppose that puts you and Nicky Jam and Anuel in the same boat,” she said.
