19 hours ago
1
Hollywood legend Rita Moreno isn’t holding back when it comes to defending Bad Bunny — and she fully supports the idea of him taking the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly en Español during the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday, October 23, the Puerto Rican actress shared her excitement over the global superstar’s success and made it clear where she stands on the backlash he’s faced.
“Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl? Ay, I’m delirious!” she said with a laugh. And when asked about critics who claim the artist isn’t “American,” Moreno fired back without hesitation: “So what? I’m Puerto Rican too. So what? What a nuisance!”
At 93, Moreno remains sharp, bold and unapologetically vocal. Her comments came just hours before she took the stage at the James L. Knight Center in Miami to present Bad Bunny with the ceremony’s most prestigious honor: Billboard Latin Artist of the 21st Century.
During her emotional introduction, the West Side Story star reflected on her own beginnings in the industry and drew a connection between her path and Bad Bunny’s rise to global fame.
“When I was starting out, opportunities were few, and every small step forward was a victory,” she told the audience. “Today, I see an artist who brings that same strength, that same passion to the world — just like the one that helped me never give up. From my heart, Benito, it brings me so much joy to give you this award.”
The heartfelt moment earned a standing ovation from the crowd. As Bad Bunny joined Moreno on stage, he embraced her and addressed the audience with a speech that was candid and emotional.
Thank You!
You have successfully subscribed.
“Thank you for those words, Rita,” he said. “I respect you so much, I admire you so much, and wow … every time I hear another artist speak about me like that, it reminds me that being myself and doing things with heart is always the right choice.”
The 31-year-old artist, who took home 11 awards out of 27 nominations, admitted he hadn’t prepared a speech. “What I’m saying now, I’m saying from the heart. I didn’t rehearse anything,” he told the audience. “I still can’t quite understand receiving this kind of award, but I thank God because he knows this won’t feed my ego. I accept it with humility. I will keep being the same.”
He ended with a message that drew another round of applause: “Go to the studio, have fun, vent, be yourselves, say what hurts, what makes you happy — and never forget who you are. I love you and I thank you.”
English (US) ·