Fox News host Tomi Lahren wrongly claimed that Bad Bunny isn’t an American artist, unintentionally exposing her lack of awareness that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.
The blunder happened on Tuesday’s episode of her podcast Tomi Lahren is Fearless, where the conservative commentator sat down with progressive pundit Krystal Ball. While discussing the Puerto Rican superstar’s upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show, Lahren brushed off his performance, saying, “He’s not an American artist.”
Ball quickly corrected her, “He’s Puerto Rican… That’s part of America, dear.”
Lahren stumbled for a moment before redirecting the conversation to Bad Bunny’s political views. “Do you have any problems with his anti-ICE sentiments?” she asked, to which Ball responded, “America agrees with him on that.”
The clip quickly spread across social media, where users roasted Lahren for her mistake. Even CNN’s Jake Tapper and political strategist Maria Cardona chimed in, with Cardona joking, “She needs to crack a book.”
Lahren’s slip-up comes as conservatives ramp up criticism over the 31-year-old Puerto Rican artist’s upcoming Super Bowl performance. Detractors have taken issue with Bad Bunny — born Benito Martínez Ocasio — for frequently rapping in Spanish and previously expressing hesitation about touring in the U.S. because of ICE activity.
“There was the issue of like, fucking ICE could be outside [my concert],” Bad Bunny told i-D magazine, explaining that he wanted to make sure his fans felt safe.
Though outspoken about social issues, Bad Bunny remains a U.S. citizen, as are all Puerto Ricans by birth. Still, Lahren’s remarks have reignited debates over the persistent misunderstanding of Puerto Rico’s relationship with the United States.
As Ball put it best during their conversation: “I’m not that knowledgeable about him, but it seems fine, and I don’t see why it’s such a big deal. He seems like a great American artist.”
