Jake Paul found himself at the center of a social media firestorm after posting controversial comments about Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance, ultimately forcing the influencer to issue a clarification and express admiration for the Puerto Rican artist he had initially criticized.
The controversy erupted on Sunday afternoon when Paul, who has transitioned from YouTube stardom to professional boxing, took to social media to urge his followers to boycott the NFL's highly anticipated halftime show. Less than two hours before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots faced off in Super Bowl 60, Paul wrote: "Turn off this halftime. A fake American citizen performing who publicly hates America. I cannot support that."
The target of his criticism, Bad Bunny (born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio), hails from Puerto Rico—a United States territory since 1898, where residents have been recognized as American citizens since 1917 through the Jones-Shafroth Act. This fundamental fact quickly became the focal point of widespread backlash against Paul's statement.
Within hours, Paul's tweet received a community note on X (formerly Twitter) providing crucial context and correcting the factual inaccuracy. The note explicitly stated that individuals born in Puerto Rico are indeed American citizens by birth, a status that has been in place for over a century. This public fact-checking mechanism brought immediate attention to the mischaracterization at the heart of Paul's criticism.
The timing of Paul's tweet proved particularly sensitive, as Bad Bunny's performance had already generated significant political attention due to the artist's outspoken opposition to immigration enforcement tactics employed by ICE and the Trump administration. Bad Bunny has been vocal in his criticism of these policies, creating a natural point of contention with supporters of the current administration.
Paul, who maintains residency in Puerto Rico and has been an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, found his comments amplified by the political dimensions of the situation. Trump himself weighed in on Bad Bunny's halftime performance, describing it as "absolutely terrible" in his own social media commentary on Sunday night.
Faced with mounting criticism and the stark factual correction, Paul returned to social media on Monday morning with a series of posts attempting to clarify his position. In his explanation, he acknowledged the problematic nature of his word choice while simultaneously doubling down on the underlying sentiment that prompted his initial comment.
"The problem with my tweet is the word fake being misinterpreted," Paul wrote in his Monday morning clarification. "He's not a fake citizen obviously bc hes Puerto Rican and I love Puerto Rico and all Americans who support the country. Moreso Bunny is fake bc of his values and criticism of our great country."
This explanation sought to reframe the controversy as one of patriotism and values rather than citizenship status. Paul elaborated further by drawing a parallel to another recent controversy involving American freestyle skier Hunter Hess, who had expressed "mixed emotions" about representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics—a statement that drew criticism from Trump and his supporters.
Paul's engagement with the Hess controversy provides context for his broader perspective on public figures who benefit from American platforms while criticizing the nation. His fiancée, Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam, won a gold medal on Monday, potentially influencing his sensitivity to how athletes and artists represent their countries on global stages.
In an expanded statement, Paul sought to separate his criticism of Bad Bunny's political positions from any animus toward Puerto Rico itself. "To clarify: I wasn’t calling anyone a 'fake citizen' because they’re from Puerto Rico," he emphasized. "I live in Puerto Rico, and I love Puerto Rico. I have used my platform to support Puerto Rico time and time again and will always do so. But if you’re publicly criticizing ICE who are doing their job and openly hating on America, I’m going to speak on it. Period."
Paul's assertion that he has consistently supported Puerto Rico through his platform suggests an attempt to inoculate himself against accusations of prejudice toward the territory's residents. However, his conflation of criticism of government policies with "hating on America" represents a contentious interpretation that many would dispute.
The influencer's final statement attempted to strike a more conciliatory tone while maintaining his core position: "That’s the same reason I called out Hunter Hess. If you benefit from a country and the platform it gives you, but publicly disrespect it at the same time, that’s what I mean by being a fake citizen. And I agree love is more powerful than hate. Love America."
This declaration of Love America encapsulates the patriotic framing Paul has adopted throughout this controversy, positioning his criticism as stemming from a place of national pride rather than territorial or ethnic prejudice.
The incident highlights the complex intersection of celebrity influence, social media discourse, and political polarization in contemporary American culture. Paul's initial tweet, which reached his millions of followers, demonstrates the rapid spread of misinformation—even when unintentional—and the power of community fact-checking mechanisms to provide corrective context.
The controversy also illuminates the ongoing debates about Puerto Rico's status and the rights of its citizens, issues that frequently surface in political discourse but rarely in the context of Super Bowl entertainment. For many Americans, the episode served as a reminder of the legal and constitutional realities of Puerto Rican citizenship, which are often misunderstood or overlooked in mainstream conversations.
Bad Bunny's performance itself, which proceeded without incident despite Paul's call for a boycott, reached an audience of millions and continued the tradition of high-profile Latinx representation at the Super Bowl halftime show. The artist's political stances, particularly regarding immigration policy, have made him a target for conservative criticism, but have also endeared him to fans who appreciate his willingness to use his platform for advocacy.
The entire episode underscores the challenges faced by public figures who navigate the treacherous waters of political commentary on social media. Paul's attempt to clarify his position after the fact reveals the difficulty of walking back statements that have already been widely circulated and criticized.
As social media continues to serve as a primary battleground for cultural and political debates, the incident serves as a case study in the importance of factual accuracy, the speed of community correction, and the complex dynamics of identity, citizenship, and patriotism in modern America. Paul's ultimate declaration of love for both Puerto Rico and America, while attempting to reconcile his criticism of Bad Bunny's values, leaves lingering questions about the boundaries of legitimate political dissent and the responsibilities that come with influential platforms.