Bad Bunny has officially been recognized as the most important artist of the 21st century by the Latin music industry.
During the 2025 Latin Billboard Music Awards, actress Rita Moreno surprised El Conejo Malo on stage to hand him the award for Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century. Before doing so, the 93-year-old, who is also Puerto Rican, reflected on her experience as a Latina in the industry and the obstacles she encountered.
“When I started my career, being Latino in the United States meant facing barriers. Opportunities were few, almost non-existent, and every small step forward was a victory,” said the Westside Story actress.
“I see an artist who brings the world to Latin culture with the same strength and passion that kept me going and allowed me to never give up,” said Moreno while looking at a smiling Bad Bunny smiling from the audience.
The “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” singer walked on stage and began doing a few salsa steps while the crowd roared with excitement. He then hugged Moreno as they danced and shared a moment chatting away from the mic.
During his acceptance speech, the artist humbly thanked fans and acknowledged his colleagues, stating that he didn’t know why he had been chosen over the rest.
“For me, it’s an honor to receive this award from your hands. I respect you and admire you so much,” he said to Moreno. “Every time I hear other artists speak as you did of me, it tells me that doing things from a good place and with your heart, it’s always the best decision.”
The Puerto Rican artist, the top nominee of the night with a historic 27 nods, also mentioned that he knew how hard he had worked to have a place in the industry.
“I know how much I have worked and not just me but my whole team. At the same time, I’m 100 percent aware that anyone of my colleagues could have been given this award,” added the artist who took home numerous Latin Billboard awards, including the one for artist of the year.
There were suspicions on whether he would make any mention of the current conversation surrounding his upcoming Super Bowl Halftime performance, however the artist steered clear of making any social or political statements.
In late September, El Conejo Malo announced that he would headline the halftime show in February. The news sparked an array of conversations around politics, culture and the performance being fully in Spanish.
“I’ve been thinking these past few days and after discussing it with my team, I think I will do just one date in the United States,” he wrote on X at the time.
After his No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí residency in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny revealed that he wouldn’t be adding a U.S. leg to the Debí Tirar Más Fotos Tour. In an interview, he explained that he had concerns that ICE would be outside the stadiums and that he wanted to keep his fans safe.
Bad Bunny’s tour is set to kick off in November with a first stop in the Dominican Republic.
